Stepfather of Murder Victim Causes Scuffle at Hearing
The stepfather of Tiffany York, a 17-year-old who was murdered in December, caused a disturbance at a hearing Thursday when he rushed at a soldier accused of the crime
A stepfather of a teenage murder victim caused a disturbance at a hearing Wednesday when he rushed at Fort Stewart soldiers accused of the crime, according to a Daily Beast report.
Wesley Thomas was the stepfather of 17-year-old Tiffany York, who was murdered in December. At least four deputies wrestled Thomas to the ground and handcuffed him. The Daily Beast reported that he lunged at Sgt. Anthony Peden, who prosecutors say shot York in the head.
Peden, along with Pvt. Isaac Aguigui and Pvt. Christopher Salmon could face the death penalty if convicted of the December slayings of York and former soldier Michael Roark, 19. Another soldier charged in the slayings, Pfc. Michael Burnett, pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter and has agreed to testify against the other soldiers.
Prosecutors say the four soldiers were involved in an anarchist militia group that plotted to take over Fort Stewart, bomb targets in Savannah and Washington state and assassinate the president. According to testimony from Burnett, Aguigui ordered the killings because Roark -- thought to be a member of the militia -- had left the Army and it was feared he might betray the group.
Burnett said at a hearing Monday that he and the other three defendants had lured the victims into the woods near Fort Stewart on the night of Dec. 4 on the pretext of going target shooting, according to the Associated Press. Burnett testified that once the group arrived, Peden shot York in the head as she was trying to exit her car. Salmon forced Roark to his knees and shot him twice in the head, Burnett said.
More on the murders of Michael Roark and Tiffany York:
- Four Fort Stewart Soldiers Arrested in Double Murder Case
- Four 3rd ID Soldiers Charged with Murder
- Prosecutors: Murder of Former Soldier Part of Plot Against Government
- Prosecutors: Fort Stewart Soldier Used Insurance Money to Finance Militia
- 3 Fort Stewart Soldiers Face Death Penalty in Murder Case
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