MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Memphis family is negotiating for justice almost six years after the death of their loved one.聽
Marquez Brazier was killed in December 2018. The 28-year-old's alleged killer, Deangelo Vanhook, was indicted for the murder in 2020. As of August 2024, Vanhook still had not gone on trial for Brazier's murder.聽
Vanhook's indictment came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when courts were shut down. Then, the case was assigned to Criminal Courts Division 9. Judge Melissa Boyd sat on that bench until she was suspended for more than a year for harassment and drug use. When Boyd was suspended, the case was reassigned.聽
Those hurdles left Brazier's family on a cycle of reset and delayed court hearings. On Friday, August 9, Brazier's family told FOX13 that they met with prosecutors to talk about the different options as they tried to move the case forward.聽
Brazier's family said one of those options is a plea deal, which includes time served and probation. Vanhook was charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Brazier's family said they were given a week to weigh the options.聽
"We can go home now and either as a family say yes to 10 years, and he's been in here for four years, so in a year he'll be eligible for parole. Or, we can say no, and we can take it to trial and pray that the jury understands and sees, and looks at the evidence and convicts him," said Brazier's sister, Sherrie Carroll.聽
FOX13 reached out to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office to ask about the Friday meeting. A spokeswoman told FOX13 that the state is in negotiations with Vanhook's attorney, and Brazier's family is actively participating.聽
Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.
Trending stories:
