Teen stands trial for murder

MARSHALL, IL (WTHI) - A 16-year-old Illinois girl stands trial for murder.

Maria Pacheco is facing three counts of murder in the death of her uncle Arnulfo Pacheco of Marshall, Illinois.

Pacheco's former boyfriend, Jarrod Riley, plead guilty last month to the murder of Arnulfo Pacheco.

During opening arguments the prosecution stated that Maria Pacheco planned and plotted with Jarrod Riley, her boyfriend at the time, in the death of her uncle.

They argue Maria and Jarrod were in love and wanted to run away together.

They said Maria was promised a car for her 16th birthday by her Uncle Arnulfo when she didn't get it, they say the two planned to steal Arnulfo's truck.

The state said Maria gathered items used in the attack and murder days in advance, from tape to bleach.

The state said Jarrod Riley even ordered a taxi cab two days in advance to drive him from Terre Haute to Marshall, Illinois for the attack.

Prosecutors said Maria then "lured" her uncle to her home saying her sink was broken, when he came inside Riley attacked him.

Maria's attorney stated that Maria had only planned to steal from Arnulfo and "detain" him and his death was never part of the plan.

Her attorney said Maria wasn't even in the room when Riley killed Arnulfo and she didn't know her uncle was dead until she came back downstairs.

Forensic Pathologist Doctor Roland Kohr testified Wednesday, he performed the autopsy.

Some photos from the crime scene and autopsy were shown to the jury Wednesday.

"Mainly the testimony had to do with describing the wounds, describing my cause of death opinion. This was one of the more violent attacks I've seen in my career," Kohr said.

Jarrod Riley took the stand briefly Wednesday to verify text messages he and Maria exchanged around the time of the murder, nearly 2,000 pages worth.

Riley's testimony will continue Thursday morning.

Some of the most compelling evidence was an essay written by Maria Pacheco herself.

It was read in the courtroom Tuesday.

Maria described herself as a quiet, good kid who's never been in trouble before.

She wrote that her father was rarely around, he was "always working or drinking."

She also stated in the letter she was "forced" to work for her parents at their restaurant and help raise her five younger siblings.

Maria wrote, "I made bad decisions" and "If you knew me you wouldn't think I'd be involved in what got me here."