Aunt wants death penalty for teen niece

MARSHALL, IL (WTHI) - Maria Pacheco, 16, will go trial in November for first degree murder.

She's suspected along with Jarrod Riley in the murder of her uncle, Arnulfo Pacheco.

"I would have never thought one of our family members would have done that to us," Celia Pacheco, Arnulfo's sister said.

Riley and Pacheco appeared in court Wednesday.

Riley and Pacheco both face three counts of murder.

Police said Riley killed Arnulfo, striking him in the head with a hammer.

"It's really hard to even picture that, all the torture my brother had to go through," Celia said.

Tammy Wycoff said she kicked Riley out of her home just before the murder.

She said Riley had a dark side that no one knew about.

"I think he probably talked Maria into things she probably didn't want to do," Wycoff said. "I really and truly in my hear believe that because he was a con."

Wycoff said her family was shocked to learn of the murder and now they hope he doesn't get out.

"He has problems obviously and I pray they keep him under lock and key," Wycoff said.

As for Celia, Maria's aunt, she said she wants justice for her brother and her family.

"I think both of them should get the death penalty, I think it's only fair," Celia said. "My brother didn't deserve this."

For now, both will remain behind bars until a jury decides their fate this fall.

An Illinois judge said Pacheco and Riley are being tried separately.

However, for now, both of their jury trials are set for the same date, November 2.

Riley is expected back in court Sept. 22 at 9 a.m. central time for a pre-trial hearing.

Pacheco's pre-trial hearing is set for Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. central time.