Silliman's friends to be sentenced for role in his death

Raleigh, N.C. — Two Apex teenagers who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2008 slaying of a friend could hear their fate Monday.

Allegra Rose Dahlquist and Aadil Shahid Khan, both 19, were expected to be sentenced Monday for their roles in the slaying of Matthew Josiah Silliman, 18, whose body was found on Dec. 2, 2008, in an unoccupied property owned by Dahlquist's family.

Both agreed to testify against a co-conspirator, Ryan Patrick Hare, and saw their first-degree murder charge reduced to second-degree.

Only Dahlquist took the stand. Prosecutors didn't call Kahn because he was unable to remember the details of the murder. A fourth suspect, Drew Logan Shaw, testified against Hare but declined a plea offer. Wake County Assistant District Attorney Jason Waller has said he hopes to resolve Shaw's case on Monday as well.

Hare was found guilty Sept. 24 of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Silliman, who had a diagnosis for depression and bipolar disorder, was reported missing and a Silver Alert for him was issued on Nov. 26, 2008. Arrest warrants said the homicide occurred four days later. Sheriff's deputies acting on a tip to Apex police found his body at 4221 Olive Branch Lane in New Hill.

Dahlquist and Khan were seniors at Apex High School at the time, while Shaw was a sophomore at Panther Creek High School. Hare withdrew from Panther Creek High School in February 2008.

During Hare's trial, prosecutors said that Hare and Dahlquist were once in a romantic relationship and that Hare was jealous of Silliman's close friendship with her.

Defense attorney Joe Cheshire, who represents Dahlquist, described Hare was a ringleader who psychologically manipulated his client.

According to his autopsy, Silliman had lethal amounts of alcohol and a drug commonly prescribed as an anti-depressant in his system when he died. He was found zipped into a sleeping bag, with his hands and feet bound with plastic zip ties and a bag over his head.

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Latest Comments

It's too bad these murderers didn't get capital punishment.

dlb800
November 15, 2010 1:41 p.m.

No sympathy for these kids. No excuse for what they did, now face the music.

shortcake53
November 15, 2010 12:27 p.m.

I can't beleive this defense attorney had the nerve act is if Mr. Khan "did not have the opportunity" to speak during Hare's trial. He didn't get the opportunity to speak because he stopped cooperating with police. It's only because of the judge that they even kept the plea deal. This kid should be facing murder 1.

88gta
November 15, 2010 12:17 p.m.

hello can we please get on with the freakin sentencing phase. Im sick of the he said she said and he didnt do this and that. we all know as well as do they he took part in the murder. also i agree it is starting to sound like a freakin trial or at the very least a very long oh no feel sorry for him speech, they didnt feel sorry for matt when they were draining the life out of him !!!

pamelaworley1969
November 15, 2010 12:06 p.m.

I thought this was a sentencing - sounds like a trial to me.

Just sentence the 2 and be done with it.