A south suburban man was ordered held without bond Thursday for his alleged role in the Christmas Day slaying of a 17-year-old pregnant Chicago girl.
Darius D. Marshall, 19, of Dolton, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of Eva Casara. Marshall pleaded not guilty.
Marshall's two brothers -- Anthony Lee, 16, and Diante Lamont Coakley, 21, have already been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of the 17-year-old. Lee was Casara's boyfriend and the father of her baby, Lailani, who survived the shooting but was listed in critical condition.
Authorities say the shooting was the result of a botched drug-related robbery that "spiraled out of control."
Prosecutors alleged Lee, Coakley, Marshall, Casara and possibly another individual went to 152nd and Dorchester with the intention of robbing someone Casara arranged to meet. Once the individual arrived at the scene, Casara and Coakley got into the back seat of the person's car and had a conversation with the driver, who told Coakley to get out of the car, prosecutors say.
As Coakley tried to open the driver’s side door, prosecutors said, the intended victim drove off.
Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Driscoll said Thursday that all three suspects fired at a fleeing vehicle with Casara inside, striking her in the back of the head, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
It wasn't until the driver and a passenger heard "gurgling sounds" that they realized Casara was still in the backseat.
The driver pulled the victim out of the car and drove to Hammond, Ind., prosecutors said.
Police say they believe Marshall drove away with Casara's body and dumped it in an alley a few blocks away from where the shooting occurred.
Marshall's attorney, Stuart Goldberg, said the teen had been hiding out in an undisclosed location in the days after Casara was found dead, but was convinced to surrender on Monday.
Coakley and Lee turned themselves in to the Dolton Police Department, where they admitted to planning the robbery, prosecutors said. They were held without bond following a Saturday court appearance.
Witnesses also identified Coakley as a shooter that night, according to authorities.
"Of course I'm surprised," said Casara's aunt Melody Vardas. "We didn't know the extent of his involvement in the situation. He put her in a situation -- him and his brother put her in a bad situation. Why would he do that?"
Vargas said the two had been dating for more than a year and were "in love."
"She was in love with him, she was blushing saying 'this is my boyfriend," Vargas said. "And he also said 'I love her and I'd do anything for her.'"
On Saturday, Casara's family held a vigil for the slain teen.
"It's a healing process," said her mother Estrellita Casara. "This is helpful. I needed this because I can't sleep."
