Five people were charged for the May 2019 murders of 39-year-old Michael Coleman, 34-year-old Rachel Ozuna, and Rachel’s 14-year-old son Kyruss Ozuna.
Trigger warning: This article contains details of murder and violence that may be distressing to some readers.
Three people who were brutally killed almost two years ago are finally getting justice as their alleged killers have now been arrested. Five people were charged for the May 2019 murders of 39-year-old Michael Coleman, 34-year-old Rachel Ozuna, and Rachel’s 14-year-old son Kyruss Ozuna in Virginia. On that day, Rachel and Michael's 2-year-old toddler and 6-week old child were also at home. They were unharmed.
The killers, Durward Anthony Allen, 27, Jamal Kelvin Bailey, 30, Hugh Cameron Green, 30, James Christopher Myers, 30, and Montel Jaleek Wilson, 26, were charged with first-degree murder, according to People.
Michael, Rachel, and her son Kyruss were found dead by the latter's father, who had gone to check on his son on May 29, 2019. The three victims had their throats slashed, the Free Lance-Star reports. NBC Washington reported that a deputy's body cam video, which was played during the hearing, showed that Rachel's body was found on the floor. Her toddler was beside her and her baby daughter was swinging in an infant seat nearby. The children were quickly taken out of the house when the deputies found them.
At the hearing, authorities also played a 12-minute 911 call made by Kyruss's father, Benjamin Jimenez. The dispatcher had asked, "Where is your son?" to which he replied, "He's in the bathroom tied up and in a pool of blood." The dispatcher then asked Benjamin, "What do you think is going on in the house?" He replied, "Somebody got murdered."
The investigators also believed that the family was killed three days before they were found on May 29, 2019. The couple's young children were home alone for three days before being found. Authorities also revealed a possible motive for the killings.
Michael was reportedly a drug dealer and would sometimes have up to $100,000 at home. They also found instruments needed to package kilo-sized cocaine.
The suspects, who are from Philadelphia, reportedly traveled to Virginia on May 25, 2019, and stayed at a motel before returning to their home state on May 26 after the murders. A video was found on one of the perpetrator's phones that showed the suspects at a strip club days later with a huge amount of cash. One defendant, whose phone call with a jailed relative was recorded, had said, "You hear that?" His question was followed by a slapping sound of a stack of bills. "That’s the money machine," said one of the defendants.
Defense attorneys of Durward, Hugh, and Montel argued that there was no physical evidence connecting their clients to the murders. However, the judge ruled that there was enough circumstantial evidence for them to be charged with first-degree murder. The preliminary hearing of the other two defendants is still pending. When the suspects were arrested, except Hugh, they were already in prison for unrelated charges.
A GoFundMe page was set up by family members of Rachel for their funeral expenses. "The funds will go towards funeral arrangements, getting Rachel and Ky home to Utah and the ongoing care of their two small children," the page reads.
References:
https://people.com/crime/baby-toddler-home-alone-3-days-parents-brother-killed/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/rachel-and-kyrrus-ozuna-memorial-fund
Cover image source: GoFundMe
