Victim's friend reacts after Pacheco verdict reached, trial recap

MARSHALL, Ill. (WTHI) - It took a jury just 25 minutes to find Maria Pacheco, 16, guilty of Arnulfo Pacheco's murder.

Maria Pacheco walked out of the courtroom without saying a word after the jury reached a guilty verdict less than a half hour into deliberations.

"I was just very thankful for the verdict because now maybe his brother can let him rest," said Arnulfo's friend Sara Riggs.

Throughout the week, it was a family divided. Maria's parents and sister sat on the side of the defense, with her younger sisters just outside the courtroom. On the side of the prosecution, Arnulfo's brother Rudy, sat with friends.

Both parts of the family declined to make a comment, but Arnulfo's children spoke exclusively with News 10 days after his murder in July 2009.

"I've always loved him," said daughter Elizabeth Pacheco. "He's a good dad."

"He always cared for us," said son Jaime Pacheco. "He loved us"

Jarrod Riley, 20, testified that he is the one who actually killed Arnulfo. Maria's defense attorney tried to show it was all Riley's plan and that Maria was scared of what he would do to her and her family if she backed out.

But prosecution used text messages to show Maria helped plan and lure him to her family's home, which sits just about a block from the courtroom.

"This was one of the more violent attacks I've seen in my career," said forensic pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr.

After she was arrested in Tennessee, Maria told state police investigators in a video recording that "I honestly think he deserved it." At the time she said she believed Arnulfo was molesting her sisters. But that allegation was not supported by any evidence in court. Maria testified on Friday that even she didn't believe it was true any more.

"No, never," said Riggs.

Maria Pacheco was found guilty of murder, robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle. She is scheduled to be sentenced March 17 and could face up to 74 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Jarrod Riley pled guilty to a murder charge in December. He is due to be sentenced February 22.