Judge Hears Motions In Gang Initiation Murder Of 16-Year-Old Girl

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A judge begins to hear motions in the vicious gang initiation killing of a 16-year-old girl. Arnesha Bowers was found murdered. Her body was set on fire inside a Northeast Baltimore home. One of her alleged killers is just 14 years old.

It's a murder that Baltimore police officials called "absolutely evil." Now the justice process begins for three alleged killers.

Arnesha Bowers, 16, was found inside her grandmother's basement. She'd been raped and strangled. Her body was set on fire to cover up the crime.

"I can only imagine what the last moments of Arnesha's life was like. It had to have been pure hell," said Maj. Stanley Brandford, June 2015.

Three alleged members of the Bloods gang -- Adonay Dixon, John Childs and Raeshawn Rivers -- are now behind bars. Rivers -- just 14 years old -- is charged as an adult.

Investigators believe the murder was part of a gang initiation.

"This was supposed to be done in order for one of these guys to get in and another guy to move higher up within this gang," said Brandford.

WJZ was there as both John Childs and Adonay Dixon -- both in prison jumpsuits -- were led into the courthouse Thursday.

Dixon family members say they want the truth to come out.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens," said Sandra Dixon, relative.

Thursday, the judge granted a motion to separate the trials of some of the defendants.

Childs and Rivers are still set to be tried together. Dixon will have his own trial.

Bowers' family has been waiting more than a year for justice in her death.

"Arnesha had a beautiful smile, and everyone would comment when they met her, 'You have a lovely smile.' She had a beautiful heart to match," one relative said.

Now her alleged killers face life behind bars.

Trial dates for the three are expected to be set on Monday.

A judge previously denied requests to move 14-year-old Rivers' case to juvenile court, saying this was a calculated crime.

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