YORK COUNTY, Va. — The five suspects accused of murdering a Richmond woman in May are no longer facing charges, after a York County judge accepted the prosecution's motion to nolle pros the charges on Tuesday.
The second-degree murder and conspiracy charges against Hezekiah Carney, Acacia Jackson, Donnisha Goodman and Jayquan Jones were all nolle prossed Tuesday during what was intended to be a preliminary hearing.
Charges were also set aside for a fifth suspect, Jamica Langley, on December 12, according to court documents.
Nolle pros is a legal action by which prosecutors indicate on record that they will no longer prosecute a pending criminal charge against a defendant. It's similar to a dismissal of the charges, except that the charges can be reinstated by prosecutors at a later time.
"Basically, it means '[prosecutors are] not moving forward with the charge[s] right now," said 13News Now legal analyst Ed Booth.
Booth, who is also a former prosecutor, said when or if the charges are brought back all depends on the facts and evidence in the case.
It's unclear to the public why York County prosecutors moved in this direction.
"That could be for a variety of reasons," Booth said. "There could be a lack of evidence. There could be a witness who was missing that was important. But, for whatever reason, the Commonwealth believes that, at least at this time, they cannot go forward with the charges or dismissal without prejudice."
All five suspects were accused of murdering Ty'osha Mitchell after she allegedly tried to leave the gang all of them were a part of called "Vietnam Baby Gorilla." It is tied to the Norfolk-based "Mad Stone Bloods," according to law enforcement.
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At the time of her death, Mitchell was the highest ranking female member of "Vietnam Baby Gorilla," court documents said.
Court documents also say that a man investigators identified as Mitchell's boyfriend told them a group of people came to Mitchell's apartment in Richmond on May 6. The boyfriend said three women started "beating her [Mitchell] out of the gang."
After the beating, detectives believe the group took Mitchell to a wooded area in York County and shot her eight times. Not long afterwards, Mitchell's body was found by a jogger along Old Williamsburg Road, according to detectives.
At the time of the murder, York-Poquoson Sheriff Ron Montgomery told 13News Now the crime spanned three cities.
It's unclear what happens from here in the case against the five suspects. Mitchell's family told 13News Now on Tuesday they are heartbroken by the prosecutor's decision.
York County's Commonwealth's Attorney Krystyn Reid declined to comment to 13News Now Tuesday afternoon.