Murder suspects appear in court for the first time

Two teenagers charged with the murder of another Columbia teen appeared in court Friday.

Joshua D. Murray and Nicholas R. Thomas were charged with the first-degree murder of Tre’Veon Marshall on Thursday.

Both men waived the reading of the charges and the judge ordered a bond investigation to determine whether to lower bail.

Thomas’ bond is currently set at $2 million cash-only and Murray’s is at $1 million cash-only.

First-degree murder is a charge that could carry the death penalty.

Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight says he needs to investigate the case further to decide if the death penalty will be an option.

“I must give reasonable notice to defense attorneys before I seek the death penalty. At this stage we are still investigating the case. I have not made a decision whether or not to seek the death penalty,” said Knight.

Knight added that he would consult with the Marshall family before deciding on the death penalty.

The Marshall family is still suffering the loss of their son along with the Rankin family, who lost their son in April 2012. The two murders could be related, according to court documents.

Court documents say Marshall was friends with Lamarr Mayfield, the teenager who admitted to killing Bryan Rankin, Jr.

Rankin was friends with Murray and Thomas.

“All I can say to everyone is these kids out here doing these murders and all that, there is no reason for that at all,” said Brian Rankin Sr. “We still don’t know why my son was killed. It is going back and forth, it’s stupid, it’s childish, I don’t condone it and I want it to stop.”