Third Defendant To Appear In Court For Murder Of Arnesha Bowers

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The third defendant in the murder of 16-year-old Arnesha Bowers is due to appear in court today.

Our media partner, The Baltimore Sun, said 15-year-old Raeshawn Rivers is being charged as an adult for his alleged role in the June 2015 killing of the City College student.

Rivers, along with two other young men, robbed Bowers' home. When she discovered the crime in progress, she was bludgeoned with a meat tenderizer, raped, strangled and set on fire.

Two co-defendants, Adonay Dixon, 24, and John Childs, 22, pleaded guilty earlier in November.

RELATED: Two Defendants Plead Guilty In Murder Of Arnesha Bowers

Roya Hanna, Rivers' defense attorney, said her client "witnessed unspeakable events" but did not play a willing role. In her opening statement, she said Rivers and Bowers had been dating and enjoyed each others' company.

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

The three men are alleged members of the Bloods gang. Investigators believe the murder was part of a gang initiation.

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

"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," he said.

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.

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

Childs and Rivers were 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.

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

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