Listen Live
97.9 The Box Featured Video
CLOSE

Florida teen Desiray Strickland‘s life just took a turn for the worse.

The 19-year-old has been indicted for first-degree murder in the machete attack death of 17-year-old Jose Guardado, who was killed at a live-in school in Miami in June 2015. The interrogation video after her arrest was released this week and showed a handcuffed Strickland demanding to be let free, while screaming at a detective and crying hysterically, repeatedly saying, “I have no involvement! I did not kill that boy! I promise!”

According to reports, she is the girlfriend of 20-year-old Kaheem Arbelo, the suspected ringleader of the five classmates allegedly involved in Guardado’s murder. Police say the killing was over a debt owed to Arbelo, a suspected drug dealer, and that the attack was so severe, the victim’s face caved in as a result. Family members began searching for Guardado after he went missing on June 28th, and his brother discovered his body a few days later.

Strickland wasn’t the only suspect arrested. Jonathan Lucas, 18, Christian Colon, 19, and 23-year-old Joseph Michael Cabrera have also been charged. Police say the suspects planned the attack two weeks in advance, and after the killing, the group allegedly buried Guardado and burned his belongings, as well as their own clothes. Witnesses revealed to law enforcement that Strickland complained she missed the first series of machete strikes because she walked away for a few minutes to urinate in the woods.

Jose Guardado’s parents said their son was a quiet boy who kept to himself and never bothered anyone. They believe the suspects had been bullying the younger, bespectacled boy and taking money from him before his death.

Strickland has pleaded not guilty in the case.

SOURCE: Daily Mail 

SMH: Watch Florida Teen Deny She Helped Murder Her Classmate With A Machete  was originally published on globalgrind.com