Third juvenile linked to Raleigh man's death to be tried in adult court

Regynald Jose Brown's body was found Dec. 8 in a trash can in a drainage tunnel along the Walnut Creek Trail of the Capital Area Greenway in Raleigh.

Four 15-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy – considered juveniles by the court – were later arrested in the case.

Judge Vince Rozier ruled Tuesday that there was probable cause to try one of the 15-year-old boys in Superior Court.

Last week, another judge ruled that a second 15-year-old in the case could also be tried as an adult. Another 15-year-old suspect also waived his probable cause hearing and agreed to be tried as an adult on a second-degree murder charge in exchange for his testimony in the case.

The teens must still be indicted by a grand jury.

The 13-year-old also agreed to testify for the state as part of an agreement that will keep him in the juvenile court system.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour said Tuesday afternoon that a probable cause hearing for the fifth teen has not yet been set.

Prosecutors say the teens beat Brown in the head with a rock and left him to die on the greenway. They allegedly returned a few days later and put him head-first in the trash can.

Witnesses testified last week that the boys were known for taunting and harassing homeless people, even going as far as recording it and playing it back for friends and appearing happy about it.