Five years after 13-year-old Shavon Randle was abducted and shot to death, a third man is set to stand trial for his alleged involvement in her kidnapping and murder.
The trial began March 1, in a Dallas County Courtroom.
According to The Dallas Morning News, Darius Fields faces a charge for engaging in organized criminal activity in connection with the 13-year-old’s abduction and death in 2017.
Fields is one of four men charged in connection to the crimes. So far, no one has been directly charged for Shavon’s murder.
The other three men charged for their involvement in the criminal activity are Desmond Jones, Laquon Wilkerson, and Devontae Owens. Shavon’s cousin, Michael Titus, whose body was found along with the 13-year-old’s, is also believed to have been involved.
Desmond Jones was sentenced to 99 years in prison in 2020 after he was convicted for his role in the crimes. During Jones’ trial, prosecutors said the plan to kidnap Shavon was made after Kendall Perkins, who was dating Shavon’s cousin, apparently stole $250,000 worth of drugs from Fields.
Fields is said to have planned with Jones, Wilkerson, Owens, and Titus to kidnap the Shavon’s cousin and hold her for ransom. Instead, the four men allegedly abducted Shavon from her aunt’s home and killed her.
Jones, who later took police to Shavon’s and Titus’ bodies in a boarded-up drug house in Oak Cliff, told investigators that Titus shot and killed Shavon. Jones claimed that Wilkerson, enraged by the girl’s murder, shot and killed Titus.
Laquon Wilkerson was sentenced to 40 years in prison last September for his involvement in the crime. The Dallas Express reported that he made a plea deal with Dallas County prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity.
The terms of his plea deal also saw three other felony charges brought against him dropped by prosecutors. The charges include aggravated kidnapping, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and harassment.
Devontae Owens’ case is still pending.
Fields is currently serving a federal sentence on gun charges in connection with the case. If convicted at the end of the trial, which prosecutors said could last weeks, Fields could face a life sentence.
