Charges dismissed in case of mutilated body, Antioch arson due to racist texting scandal
Charges dismissed in case of mutilated body, Antioch arson due to racist texting scandal
Contra Costa County's district attorney's office on Wednesday said they are dismissing a case against two suspects accused of mutilating human remains and arson along an Antioch trail last fall. The victim family react to the news.
ANTIOCH, Calif. - Contra Costa County's district attorney's office on Wednesday said they are dismissing a case against two suspects accused of mutilating human remains and arson along an Antioch trail last fall.
"I was destroyed. Sad beyond control," said Sandra Sharlman, the mother of Mykaella Sharlman whose body was found burned along the Mokelumne Trail on October 17.
The reason for the dismissal, according to prosecutors, is because the investigation of this case relied heavily on the work of Antioch Police Department officers who are associated with racist text messages.
"After thoroughly reviewing the officers' role in this case, applying relevant legal principles, and considering ethical responsibilities, the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office no longer has confidence in the integrity of this prosecution," the District Attorney's office statement read.
"They are material witnesses to the case and no one, no prosecution can proceed if the material witnesses to the case cannot testify," said Assistant District Attorney Annie Esposito, who has been put in charge of doing final reviews for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office of all cases potentially tainted by the Antioch Police scandal.
"It punched me in the gut to know that my sister will never get justice because of something that's going on in our city. It just doesn't make sense," said Nicole Eason, Mykaella's sister.
The D.A.'s office said they could refile criminal charges against the accused – Deangelo Boone and Ashton Montalvo – if new evidence is developed.
Family members say they want Antioch police and prosecutors to refile criminal charges, based on surveillance video and other evidence, which Eason says shows the men pushing a trash receptacle to the trail and lighting it on fire.
Early in the investigation, police asked for help identifying Sharlman's body, considered a Jane Doe. Police focused on distinctive jewelry found at the crime scene, including a pendant with the letter K attached. The victim's body was found on fire by first responders. Investigators said the autopsy revealed the victim was dead before being discovered by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
"There's too much evidence. Too much, for them to let this go," said Sandra Sharlman.
Prosecutors offered their sympathy to the victim's family and said they would renew the prosecution if they are presented with an opportunity.
The case exposes the big impact the Antioch Police Department racist texting scandal could have on the courts, forcing prosecutors to review every single case the officers touched.
"They have to be reviewed individually. Case by case by case. We cannot make because one size does not fit all. And because of that, it's a lot of work," said Esposito.
The DA's office says they are adding five new attorneys to their staff, just to handle the reviews of every case that is at risk of being tainted by officers in the Antioch police racist text messaging scandal.
Antioch police hope jewelry helps ID Jane Doe found burned along trail
Antioch police released new information Tuesday about a Jane Doe whose burned body was found one day earlier along a trail.