Legal analyst says it could be months before evidence in Jayden McComber murder case is revealed
VENN
CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Our 8News legal analyst said it could be months before prosecutors reveal how four suspects arrested for killing Jayden McComber know each other, or what their alleged motive was.
The final person facing murder charges in Caroline County for the death of 18-year-old McComber appeared in court on Monday, April 6, for the first time.
The sheriff’s office arrested four people -- 23-year-old Rashad Mayfield of Henrico County, 20-year-old Devonti Pettaway of Chesterfield County, 19-year-old Jaden Phillips of Richmond and 18-year-old Kennady Lambert -- after McComber was reported missing out of Hopewell on March 26. His body was found in a pond on March 31.
Jayden Michael McComber. (Photos: Hopewell City Public Schools)
The four suspects are each facing a second-degree murder charge. The three men appeared in court for the first time on Friday, April 3 and Lambert appeared via video on Monday.
The judge ordered all of them not to speak to one another and to stay behind bars until their next court appearance on July 17.
It might not be until then that what evidence has been gathered will become public.
“This is when the lawyers start their work," 8News legal analyst Russ Stone said.
Investigators recovered what they believe are McComber’s personal items at Mayfield’s home on Thursday, April 2, but it's unclear what those items are or what led them to Mayfield's home in the first place.
Investigators believe everyone involved knows each other, but the question is how.
Stone said it could be months until questions like this are answered inside the courtroom, and deals could possibly be made in the meantime.
“The attorney for the person that might be deemed least culpable is certainly gonna be talking to their client about the possibility of, you know, ‘Hey, maybe if you come clean and tell what happened, that might help you out in your case,'" he said.
Caroline authorities believe McComber’s death is linked to another ongoing homicide investigation for an unidentified female. Sheriff Scott Moser told 8News on Monday that there was no update in her case that he could share.
For all of our coverage on these homicide investigations, click here.
