Jacob Barnes, 23, (l) and Jeremy Lee, 16. (WDIV photo)
Two people, one 16 and another 23, were arraigned Thursday in Detroit's 36th District Court on charges of killing and setting on fire a pregnant 29-year-old Melvindale woman who was found in a vacant home in Southwest Detroit.
Jacob Barnes, 23, of Lincoln Park, and Jeremy Lee, 16, of Detroit were charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, assault of a pregnant individual, intentionally causing death of a fetus and mutilation of a dead body, WDIV reports. Lee is being charged as an adult in the murder of Amanda Lynn Benton, 29, who had four boys, ages 3-11 and was five months pregnent.
Amanda Lynn Benton
Both pleaded not guilty and were detained. A preliminary examination is set for Oct. 18.
Family members said the murder was over her Dodge Neon car.
Authorities say that Benton, who was struggling with drug addiction, was reported missing Sept. 28. and was found two days later in a vacant home on Vanderbilt Street in Detroit, WDIV reports.
Barnes and Lee allegedly fatally beat Benton at Woodmere and Cabot streets in Detroit and put her in the trunk of her car, WDIV reports. She was then taken to the Vanderbilt home where she was set afire.
The two drove off in her car and then left it in southwest Detroit.
