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Jun 22, 2009 3:24 pm US/Pacific
Teen Accused Of El Dorado Murder Pleads Not Guilty
14-Year-Old Suspect May Be Tried As Adult
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (CBS13/AP) ―
Steven Colver, the 19-year-old El Dorado Hills man accused in the murder of his girlfriend's mother has plead not guilty.
Colver and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Tylar Witt were arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of the Witt's mother.
The body of 47-year-old Joanne Witt, was found last Monday. Police say the woman had been violently stabbed to death several days prior to the discovery.
Steven Colver made his first court appearance this afternoon and entered the not guilty plea. On Friday, the El Dorado County District Attorney filed murder charges against him with a special allegation that he used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a knife. Today, the District Attorney's office said they would not be filing statutory rape charges against Colver because the key witness, Tylar's mother, is now dead.
Colver made his court appearance just hours after Tylar made her first appearance in juvenile court this morning.
In a rare move, the public including CBS13 reporter David Begnaud, was allowed in the courtroom despite the fact that it was a juvenile hearing.
Witt was in a jail issued jumpsuit shackled at her waist and ankles, her hair now bluish-black, when she came into court. David described her as polite and energetic when she told the judge her name was Tylar Marie Witt. The judge remanded Witt back to juvenile detention.
While the counts against Witt were not read aloud in juvenile court, the judge did say she is facing 25 years to life in prison if she is convicted. CBS13 has learned Witt is being charged with murder. She is also facing charges from two previous alleged crimes, one count of battery of her mother and one count of possession of stolen property.
The judge, Hon. James Wagoner, told the courtroom that he knows Witt's grandparents. He said he serves on a charity board with them, but that it would not be a conflict of interest.
Authorities declined to confirm or deny any of rumored motivations for the murder, but acknowledged they have responded to emergency calls for the family in the past.
CBS13 confirmed on Thursday a report had been filed with the El Dorado County Child Protective Services in the past alleging Tylar had been abused. But we do not know the outcome of that investigation.
On May 18, police responded to the Witt house on an assault call. Tylar admitted to assaulting her mother and was taken to juvenile hall, according to authorities.
Sources told CBS13 that Steven Colver had been renting a room at Joanne Witt's house in the time prior to the murder. The mother had allowed it because Tylar told her Steven was a good friend and was gay, according to sources.
A friend of Tylar's said her mother eventually found out that Tylar and Steven were a couple and Joanne Witt was not happy about it. He says Tylar and her mother fought about it.
"They got into arguments about that. I know about the statutory rape charges she was trying to file," said Tylar's friend Jordan Ubry. "He mom told her she could never see him again. The mom was definitely not happy about the relationship. I know that."
Jordan described both Tylar and Steven as "nice people".
El Dorado County prosecutors have yet to decide whether to charge a 14-year-old girl as an adult in the slaying of her mother.
Deputy District Attorney Lisette Suder says the life sentence could be imposed if Witt is eventually tried and convicted as an adult. Witt's attorney, Mark Ralphs, declined comment.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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