A 17-year-old boy, identified in court only as R.I. due to his age, appeared in court on Thursday, January 11 to face charges for the murder of four people in Reedley, a small town southwest of Fresno, California. 

Entering a plea equivalent to not guilty, R.I. remains at the center of a case that has jolted the community with its severity.

Authorities charged R.I. with the killings of 81-year-old Billy Bond, his son, 61-year-old Darrell Bond, his grandson, 43-year-old Matthew Bond and granddaughter-in-law, 44-year-old Guadalupe Bond. 

The investigation revealed three bodies in the backyard of a home last Saturday, one in a shallow grave. Matthew Bond’s body was found in the detached garage of R.I.’s home on Tuesday, leading to the teenager’s arrest.

Prosecutors have filed a motion to try R.I. as an adult. A conviction in juvenile court would result in his detention in juvenile hall until the age of 25. If tried and convicted as an adult, R.I. faces a potential life sentence without parole. This decision is pivotal, highlighting the legal complexities in cases involving serious crimes committed by juveniles.

The motive behind the murders remains under investigation. However, the discovery of a safe reportedly containing guns and money, forced open and emptied in the victims’ home, suggests a possible motive for the crime.

Several of R.I.’s relatives, including his mother, attended the court hearing. His mother and her boyfriend are charged with being accessories after the fact to the murders and have been released on bond.

The case has garnered significant attention due to the age of the accused and the nature of the charges. Reedley, known for its tranquility, is grappling with the impact of this crime.