A 17-year-old male, known in court only as R.I. due to his age, stood before a judge on Thursday, January 11. He is facing charges for the murder of four individuals in the small town of Reedley, located southwest of Fresno, California.
R.I. entered a plea akin to not guilty, thus becoming the focal point of a case that has sent shockwaves through the community due to its extreme nature.
The young suspect is charged with the murders of his neighbors, 81-year-old Billy Bond, his son Darrell Bond, aged 61, his grandson Matthew Bond, aged 43, and Matthew’s wife, Guadalupe Bond, who was 44 years old.
During the investigation, three bodies were found in the backyard of a residence last Saturday, one of which was in a shallow grave. The body of Matthew Bond was discovered in the detached garage of R.I.’s home on Tuesday, subsequently leading to the teenager’s apprehension.
Prosecutors have submitted a motion to try R.I. as an adult. If convicted in a juvenile court, he would be detained in juvenile hall until he is 25 years old. However, if he is tried and convicted as an adult, he could potentially face a life sentence without the possibility of parole. This decision underscores the legal intricacies in cases where juveniles are accused of committing serious crimes.
The motive for the murders is still under investigation. However, the discovery of a safe, reportedly containing firearms and cash, which had been forced open and emptied in the victims’ residence, points to a potential motive for the crime.
Several of R.I.’s family members, including his mother, were present at the court hearing. His mother and her boyfriend are facing charges of being accessories after the fact to the murders and have been released on bail.
The case has attracted considerable attention due to the age of the accused and the severity of the charges. The small, typically peaceful town of Reedley, California is struggling to come to terms with the impact of this horrifying crime.