Sword and Scale - Episode 103

Episode Date: November 12, 2017

Nothing quite says fear like a machete. In this episode we bring you to distinct stories of some of the most barbaric and utterly inexplicable attacks with a blade to poor souls who did nothing to deserve such brutality.The first story comes from Apex, North Carolina, where an 18-year-old girl named Priyanka Kumari is savagely attacked on her way home from school. The second comes from South Florida of course, where 17-year-old Jose Amaya-Guardado is ganged up on and killed by his classmates at a live-in trade school for troubled youth. They then have sex near Jose's corpse because nothing quite says romance like hacking up a kid to pieces.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences Listener discretion is advised Hello, I'm your host Mike Bude. Welcome to Season 4, Episode 103 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. We are constantly reminded of the horrors that guns can unleash. The aurora theater murders, Sandy Hook, the Las Vegas shootings. The idea that a crazed gunman can take the lives of so many in such a short period of time is very scary. But for some reason, maybe because of the nature of our entertainment culture, guns don't seem to elicit the same sheer panic and horror that other instruments of death do. Our heroes in movies and TV carry guns and use them often.

The figures that really scare us are in horror films and they use other tools entirely. In Friday the 13th, for example, Jason Voorhees didn't carry a gun. He carries a machete. Today, we will tell you about two very real stories where the weapon of choice is maybe a dog or a cat. Quiet neighborhoods, where repetitive daily routines are the norm. Parents get up and go to work to support their families. Children go to school, aspiring to realize their dreams to become doctors, lawyers, or

even podcast hosts. Neighbors look out for each other. For many people, this is the epitome of a safe life. But sometimes that safe life is an illusion. Our story takes place on January 12th of 2017 in Apex, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh with a reported population of almost 50,000. But the place itself isn't important. This could be any suburb in America, any neighborhood.

In fact, it could be yours. What happened in this neighborhood on January 12th will prove to you that no place is really safe. We'll prove to you that no place is really safe, and all it takes is one person with a violent idea and a blade. I am right outside 1836, Beniziaway and Echimabalakasa. It's a division I'm sure you've gotten strong calls, but they're a man with. It's not necessarily, but it looks like it and he is just stabbing through your heart. Of course, there were other calls, lots of them. That's because it was three o'clock in the middle

of a beautiful day on the sidewalk in a residential neighborhood. There were kids getting off buses from school. People were driving down the street. Anyone could witness this man violently stabbing a girl with something that looked like a machete 911 what is the location of your emergency? I'm on the corner of a bruiseal of the knees and there's some guy attacking a girl

Like you're going on top of her and like attacking her. Can you give me the intersection again? It's a bruiseau A, B, R, E, Z, D,E-N-E-Z-I-A, and you have a contact. We've literally... All right, let me get... That's Apex. Let me transfer... Nah, man, man, man. This is the Apex...

No, no, you're fine. I understand. I just have to transfer to the Apex police department. Okay, I'm transferring the Apex police department. Okay, I'm transferring to the Apex police department. That's it. Okay, man. The Raleigh operator is trying to quickly hand it off to the apex operator.

In the background, you can hear the woman on the other end. As the attack escalates, the caller screams as if in disbelief of what she is witnessing. Hey man, this is Rally Transferring in a call. Bruso Drive in Venetia Way. There's some sort of assault going on. bruiseau drive in Venetia way. There's some sort of assault going on. A bruiseau drive in Venetia way. I didn't get anything besides the eye. There's some sort of a male assaulting a female over there and I can't get anything outside

of her besides the address. You're saying a male assaulting a female? Yeah, she's telling me a male assaulting a female. What's in it? Nothing. Nothing. No, I didn't get anything from her. She lost her thing as you all in and won't answer. I'll get somebody over there. Thank you.

The caller says he's cutting her, hacking into her. He's beating her up and he's not stopping. He's not stopping. Oh my god. Oh my god. The apex operator is able to get the woman to calm down and give her more details. She paints a horrific scene. Bam? Yeah. Hey, tell me what's going on. I'm sorry.

What's going on? What's going on? What's going on? What's going on? I'm sorry. Oh my god. I'm sorry. Oh my god. What's going on? Bam'm sorry, yes. Oh my God. I'm crying. Oh my God, he's like doing that. Hey, I'm telling you what kind of, what is going on there?

I'm either soldering or something. I'm just saying, I'm an idiot. I'm making a promise to me so I can understand what you're saying. What are you saying? There is a male or a topical woman and he is hitting her with white cotton. He looks like he is telling her. Oh my God, I am going to put a white on. Oh my God!

I am going to get him out of here. He is not stopping. He is hitting her with some sort of saw or something! He's trying to chop her head off! Sometimes the saw is trying to chop her head off! He has to be so bloody and he's not stopping and he doesn't care that we're all... I'm like, I think he's trying to ask you to take him once to live! I mean, this is...

You and Yuri and's that division? Solar Corsa. And it's a front of the south of 1837, is that right? 1837, a fruzo, a PR, a PTO. And who is this? I'm in the other place, it's going to die. Oh my gosh. It's not her screaming.

OK, ma'am, I'll save it. Would you leave a man on the way? I just need to keep telling me what's going on, okay? Okay, okay. I mean, he is like, you've got some photos of, he's trying not to get hurt. He's definitely not hurt through. Okay, ma'am, I need your name. This caller is barely able to keep her composer long enough to give the pertinent details to the 911 operator. She describes exactly what she sees as calmly as she can, but undoubtably, she's not her composure long enough to give the pertinent details to the 911 operator. She describes exactly what she sees as calmly as she can, but undoubtedly. She has never seen anything like this. She interrupts the operator, screaming a shocking play-by-play before continuing to answer

the operator's questions. Oh my God. Did you know these people? No. Okay. Does it live there? No idea. I don't know. Okay. So, the thing is, it was just riding by. I think it's a huge army time. Do you solve it?

Okay. Do you have a lot of people who look like other wife, black, and trinication? Are they just family? They're family. They're family. They're family. They're family.

Oh my God. Yeah. There's a female and the male is feeding her up. And he's putting her in the house. There's a man in the house. There's a man in the house. Oh my God. Yeah, there's a female in the male, feeding her up. And he's putting her in the head, and he's trying to solve her, and he's trying to cover her neck. Okay. Oh my God. All right. Okay.

I'm going to go to the house. Okay. I'm going to go to the house. There's another man. I'm going to be going. You're on the sidewalk. I'm going to go to the house. Okay.

I'm sorry, there was anything like this before. Okay, all right. Oh, it's been the near drive. They've been the near drive. Okay. Thank you 37, the news is you're dropped. Yeah. Okay.

I guess I talked on the corner of this too. I am like freaking out. Oh my gosh, she's like, he's trying to sell the ring. What's off? Okay. Is there anybody else that I know? Well, there's so many who else is I think calling 911. Somebody was trying to videotape with people in their cars. Yeah looks fun. Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Oh my god, he's trying to cut us at all. Okay. But I don't have any way to stop him because I'm sorry. Oh my god. Did he still attack enough? Yes, he was attacking her and she's asking him to stop and he won't stop and Ellie's be front. She's very polite. She's now trying to cover her down.

I don't know what kind of lady has in the stand. I'll just put the hand saw off. I'm sorry. This is awful. And she's saying that you can't have me just cause no else can, so let's see maybe it's the best thing. I don't... The call ends suddenly, but the caller describes a man attacking a girl with something that

looks like a handsaw, trying to saw her head off with complete disregard to the crowd forming around him. The girl begs him to stop. She tells him she wants to live. A nearby resident heard the commotion and thought it was just a fight between some kids. He grabbed a 2x4 and approached the scene hoping to break it up. He retreated once he saw it wasn't just a fight. Once he saw, the machete. The man with the blade is undeterred. It's unclear if the next call is the man with a 2x4, but it is clear that people wanted to help, but couldn't, out of fear for their

own safety. the route right now okay there are any driving to her. They were even more calls. Remember the earlier call mentioning someone recording video? Did you witness anything? Very bad. I'm videoing it. We have come right away. She's not going to make it. Okay, ma'am. We already have reports of it. The police departments in route as well as our fire and our EMS. We've all been dispatched. They're all in route. I can't tell when he was there. It just for our records, man, can I have your name and phone number, please?

I have to run video. She's going to die. Okay, we're having up come to you, ma'am. Just to give you breath, help has already been dispatched again. Police fire and EMS. Did you you did you witness anything what do you think right now it's killing for i have for a video what do you mean he's killing her she's not gonna make it to the point everywhere you should have bought everywhere

yes i swear to god i'll have for a video okay stop it you're not gonna make it I'll have one video. The crowd grows and the attacker does not stop. Between the caller's frantic breaths, you can hear more screams in the distance. Okay, tell me what's going on, what happened? Um, there's a guy. I saw him in the hole and he's got a knife.

And he's coming. He's bleeding. It's me. It's him. The guy. Okay. You said he has a weapon. She's bleeding, and the crew can't die. Okay, and you said he has a weapon? He had a weapon, and he's stabbing her. And she's bleeding with you, please.

Okay, are you there with her or no? I'm watching you, yes. He's stabbing her, and I'm not proud. He's trying to kill her. The caller describes the people involved. As she says, the color of the attacker's raincoat, and she tells someone to close their eyes, presumably, her child.

Remember that at this particular time in the day in this quiet residential neighborhood, children are present. Right after this exchange, you can hear another scream in the background. Grace, don't want to close your eyes. Okay, and if he's still out there? Yes. And you said they're in front of what house?

How far away are you from them? I'm right across. I'm parked right in front of it. He's placing her head. He's feeding her up. Because all the calls are within minutes of each other, if not at the same time, each call recounts the same scene from a unique perspective.

The next caller describes the last few moments of the attack before police arrive. Is she conscious at this time? Is she standing there? What's going on? few moments of the attack before police arrive. He's not listening. She's still standing there. She's playing. She's playing. She looks like she's never killing herself. Is he standing himself now? Yeah. He's using what I found himself.

No, he's keeping that close. No, he's keeping that close. Police, fire, and EMS were all on the way. The 911 call was made at about 3 pm, just after the attack started. The police arrived at almost 309. All of the 911 calls had taken place over the span of just 9 minutes. When police confronted the attacker, he immediately complied. He was taken into custody outside 1837,

Venetia Way, about 300 feet from the victim's home on a bruiseau drive. Both the attacker and the victim were taken to the hospital. Police say an 18-year-old girl was attacked with a machete while walking home after getting off the school bus. The media swarmed the neighborhood and police released what information they could. They tell us that this young woman was attacked by a 20-year-old man with a machete.

Again, this happened in broad daylight as she was walking home. Now, police stressed it is still early on in their investigation, but they say this was not a random act. They believe this 18-year-old was targeted. Police telling of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of

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the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of another is not clear at this point that victims suffered severe lacerations to our upper body police telling us the 20-year-old suspect lives in Kerry that he was also injured all of his injuries though they tell

us were self-inflicted neighbors left concerned scary it's really scary I mean this is a great neighborhood right we've never ever gas was very disturbing I disturbing. I was at my cousins house and I saw it on the news and it said Vanese and I know I'm right down the street from there. So it was very frightening. Police eventually released the identity of the victim as Priyanka Kumari, an 18 year old senior at Holly Springs High School. Her accused attacker was Neil Metta, a 20-year-old graduate of Green Hope High School in Carrie North Carolina when he first met Kumari. Police initially reported they were previously in a relationship, something that her father denies. Here is the voice

of punkage Kumari, recounting his daughter's story. At around 3pm, the bus arrives usually, but sometimes it comes at around 3 o'clock. So I don't come because I was out of station that day. So the bus arrives and then she started walking towards home as usual. And then she realized that somebody is approaching her from the front in the hoodies so she could not see the face at all. So he grabbed her and started stabbing with the Mashaki a very large saw and before she could realize that somebody was trying to kill her, she found herself on the ground because he kept on attacking her head.

She felt untouchable and then she prayed to the God that probably he should let me die peacefully, but then no, I mean he was not letting it go peacefully, he jumped on her and then tried to cut her throat and get her, I mean cut the head off. And at the same time the police arrived at the end. Punkage Kamari said at one point during the assault, his daughter momentarily lost consciousness and that she prayed to the gods for him to let her die peacefully. He said, she lost hope. The police arrived just in time. Kamari was taken to Duke University Hospital.

He was suffering from severe lacerations to her hands, face, head, and neck. A six-hour surgery followed. The surgery lasted around six hours because a whole team of doctors were working on different parts of the body, including head, nose, cheek, and... She and so there was different specialized doctor that was doing this as a tick-bout. And now she is feeling much better than yesterday, but it is still a roller coaster ride going on. Kumari had 46 cuts to her head and face alone. And due to the severity of the nerve damage in her hands, her family worried if she would ever have full use of them again.

After she woke in the hospital, her father recorded her account and sent it to police. She was hospitalized for 10 days before being released to recover at home. Her father reports she still has nightmares and wakes up asking for help. In that scene she was lucky that she survived that day, but otherwise she would have died. Meta, her alleged attacker, had been arrested, treated for his self-inflicted wounds and put in jail. The day after the attack, he appeared in court on the charges of assault with a deadly weapon, with the intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.

This is District Judge Margaret Eagles, addressing Meta who appears in court via video conference. He's wearing an orange and white prison jumpsuit, and there are three other inmates behind him waiting their turn in court. Yes sir, what is your name? My name is Neil. What is your last name? Mehta, M-E-H-T-A. Thank you sir. Alright sir, you have one charge pinning against you.

I'm going to advise you of your rights with regards to an attorney. You have a solid deadly weapon with intent to kill and flicking serious bodily injury. You could receive up to 231 months in prison if you were convicted of that charge. Judge Eagles informs Metta of his rights. You can hire an attorney, represent himself, or have one appointed. What would you like to do about an attorney, sir?

I would like the state to appoint me one. All right, so I'm gonna point the public defender's officer to represent you. And I need you to hold on one moment. Does the state want to be heard on bond from Mr. Mehta? State prosecutor Anna Davis speaks briefly about the facts of the case describing the 911 calls and the details of the bloody scene leading up to the officer's arrival. When uniformed law enforcement arrived on scene they saw the defendant actually standing over the

victim exactly where the calls come in. They saw the defendant actually standing over the victim exactly where the calls come in. They saw him swing the machete and strike the victim in the neck. He was ordered at gunpoint to drop the machete. He did surrender and follow law enforcement's commands and was taken into custody. When interviewed, the defendant admitted to attacking his girlfriend, his ex-girlfriend, excuse me. He stated that she would not return his calls or emails or text messages. Upon further investigation, it's been determined that he had been stalking her for some time. He had sent threatening emails to the victim and had been thinking about this attack and planning it for at least a couple of weeks.

For those reasons, the state will be proceeding on attempted murder charges. There were several witnesses at the scene. The police arrived to find Meta still swinging the machete. After his arrest, he admitted to the attack, saying she would not return his calls, texts, or emails. It was released that Metta would use real and fake social media accounts, as well as an app that assigns fake numbers to call and text,

just to contact and harass Kumari. There were also threats. When Kumari ignored Metta's attempt to contact her, he threatened via email to come see her if she blocks him, and that, quote, a restraining order won't do shit." Shortly before Meta got into a lift ride to take him to the location of the attack, he posted a photo to Snapchat. He was making a kissy face and wielding a machete.

Davis surmised he had been thinking about the attack for some time. She goes on to say that meta is a potential flight risk because of his family in New Jersey. She details the physical condition of Kumari and meta's criminal history, citing these reasons for the request of no bond or at the very least two million dollars bond in cash and house arrest if he should be released. In addition just related to the victim's condition, the wounds I've seen photographs are it's a horrible incident. She has wounds on her face, her neck, her hands. She is currently at Duke Hospital and has had at least one surgery. Sure, there will be more coming. The victim in this case is 18 years old. The defendant is 19.

In terms of his criminal record, he pled guilty to DWI on September 19th of 2016. The state would assert that he is on unsupervised probation for the DWI. I'm asking the court to consider setting no bond in this case. If you are inclined to set a bond, I am asking for $2 million in cash. I'd ask that if he is released, that he be placed on electronic house arrest, that he not be allowed to leave his residence, that he have no contact whatsoever with Miss Karami, the victim in this case, or any member of her family. Judge Eagles addresses Mehta, setting the bond at $2 million cash, and should he be released,

ordering house arrest with no contact with Kumari. All right, Mr. Metta, based on the information that's been provided, I am going to set a bond for you. Understand that there's a discussion about upgrading of the charge, but that has not occurred yet. Your bond will be $2 million cash. You're also going to be ordered to submit to electronic house arrest.

You're also ordered to have absolutely no contact with Priyanka Kumari, and that's from right now up until the time you have a trial, you interplay with the charges or dismiss. That's no direct or indirect communication by way of a third party. No text messages, gift giving, social media, no contact. You're also ordered to stay away from her home, school business, place of employment.

We're framed from assaulting, beating, molesting, or wounding her. We're framed from removing damaging or injuring any property owned or in her possession. Complied with any domestic violence protective order if there's one in effect. Not possess any firearms and stay 500 yards away from her, 500 yards away from her

residence and 500 yards away from wherever she is at all times. Your next court date. It's going to be February 3rd at 9 a.m. in courtroom 303 of the White County Justice Center. Metta only responds with questions about his bond. You said a two million dollars bond, right? Cash cash. Yes, sir.

So that means I can't get a bill of bondsman or you could have a conversation, but understand is it whoever you spoke with would have to put up two million dollars cash. Yes, sir. Obviously on February 3rd, when she's speaking with your attorney, y'all can have a bond hearing at that point and that could be modified, but that is the bond as of now. Yes, sir. Obviously on February 3rd, when she's speaking with your attorney, y'all can have a bond hearing at that point, and that could be modified, but that is the bond as of now. Yes, sir. So, like, I know with bail bondsman's, like, you had to pay like 10%, so would I have to pay 10% or 2 million, or would I have to pay it a cash? It would have to be cash, sir.

All right. Okay. Thank you, sir. All right. He hangs up and walks away slowly, as if just then realizing the full consequences of his deplorable actions. On January 24, the charges against Mehta were increased to attempted murder. On February 3, the court issued a protective order for Kumari against Mehta. He cannot have direct or indirect contact with her. In the event that he is released, this order extends to Metta's family and friends. That was the first time Kumari's father saw his daughter's accused attacker.

Kumari's father, Pankaj Kumar, said seen Metta in person brought heavy thoughts. I don't want to see him because he just repretches the memory. I woke up in the morning today with a lot of stress and it happens every day almost. But yeah, time is the best healer. Kumar says the order brings his family comfort. It is just a court proceeding. It's just a formal procedure, but it does not signify anything in the real life because he is going to be in the jail. Just a piece of mind and that's it.

The protective order gave the family peace of mind, but they were confident that Mehta would be in jail for a very long time. On June 26th, Mehta waved a raiment. Waving a raiment means Mehta acknowledged the charges against him, and he entered an initial plea of not guilty. This trial would most likely not start until fall.

Shortly before the June court date, Kumari graduated from Holly Springs High School. She did not attend the ceremony. Priyanka Kumari is still receiving medical treatments nearly five months after she was brutally attacked in January. We spoke to her father here in this apex neighborhood, and he tells me that he plans to pick up her diploma later this week. Today, Priyanka's father told us how she's feeling about what would have been her graduation day.

She decided to be a Louvre from that event because she didn't want to get her image portrayed as a victim. The GoFundMe setup for Kumari's medical bills raised over $97,000, but she still has a long road to recovery. Now Kumari and her family are left to live with the permanent effects of that day. He was indifferent. He was indiscriminate, and he was hitting her head with that large saw as if he was trying to cut me coconut shell. He is completely, completely changed on her face.

I could not even recognize. When my wife went to see her before the surgery, she fainted and then she was brought by the stretchers back to the waiting room. I'm hoping is PD recovery for her and I hope that she will be able to return to the normal life, even though the doctor told me that after three months She may not be able to use her hands in the same way she used to In spite of her injuries and the struggles in recovery Kumari was her family source of strength saying from a distance to her mother

I love you mom and I'm okay, so don't worry We have been having a strength from her. And, yeah, definitely it is very hard to cope with. She was living and happy and contained with her life before this happened, and then I look at her and feel very sad. What started as a normal day in the North Carolina suburbs of Raleigh changed the lives of Priyanka Kumari and her family forever. In the heart of this quiet Apex neighborhood, residents were shocked

by the violent scene. It made them painfully aware that their neighborhood was susceptible to violence like this. People always think something like this could never happen to me, or nothing like that will ever happen here, but that is just wishful thinking. The truth is violence like this. A horrific, inexplicable, unbridled violence can be unleashed by anyone anywhere, for seemingly no reason. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. But I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it. Our next story takes place in Homestead, Florida. Ah, yes, Florida. Again.

Homestead, a city in Miami-Dade County, got its name back when the Florida East Coast Railway was building the extension to Key West. The unnamed construction camp at the end of the line was in an area opened by the government for homesteading, free land for those who wanted a new start. The railway extension was finished in 1912, and homestead was incorporated as a city in 1913, making it the second oldest in the county next to Miami. Its population has increased quite a bit from the 121 residents in 1913. Its 2016 estimated population is 67,996 residents. It's doubtful that the original homestead owners could have imagined

what their city would become, and certainly couldn't fathom what would happen in the summer of 2015. After hearing about the events and apex, we know it only takes one person with a violent idea and a machete to threaten our safety. But in this case, instead of just one violent person, there were five. In June of 2015, the Homestead Job Corps was about to start the school year. Homestead Job Corps is a federally-run school, serving at-risk youths from the age of 16 to 24. This live-in school for underprivileged kids teaches some basic education, but mostly trade

skills. Even at 17, Jose Amaya Guardado knew what he wanted to be. He enrolled in Homestead Job Corps to learn to be a mechanic. He was a shy kid, the youngest of six siblings. Like the Homesteaders from which the city gets its name, Jose's mother Lucia Guardato brought her family to the US nine years previous, wanting a better life for her children. They wanted to escape the violence in El Salvador. But violence, as we all know, is everywhere. On June 28, Jose's brother, Fredis Amaya, dropped him off at the campus. Later, Jose left campus to buy a snack. Nobody would ever see Jose again. He never returned to campus.

At 6 p.m., the school called his family, and they reported him missing to the police. The family didn't waste any time beginning to search around the clock. Three days later, is found dead. On July 1st, after days of searching, Jose's family decided to check the woods near the Job Corps campus. Their worst fears were realized when they found a body buried face down in a shallow grave.

This teen was starting to be a mechanic at Homestead Job Corps and at this point, the first time they were in the school, they were in the school face down in a shallow grave. This teen was studying to be a mechanic at Homestead Job Corps and at this point this murder really is a mystery but what we do know is that he was found dead by his own brother. A few hours after getting dropped off at Homestead Job Corps Center on June 28th,

Jose Guardado called his mom and asked for permission to leave campus and buy a snack. That's the last time Lucia Guardado spoke to her son. The family searched day and night for the 17-year-old and it wasn't until Wednesday. Three days later, that Guardado's brother made a deadly discovery. I started digging with the other, didn't find anything on the middle, so I started on the bottom part. And as his two foot facing down, the victim's brother found the body in a wooded area near

the homestead job corps center and says he knew it was Jose because of his socks. I feel happy because I knew that I found him that he was not going to be along in there. Guardados family also saw burnt wood covering the buried body. They are unsure who could have killed

their loved one in such a gruesome manner, but they are begging for answers. The only thing is that wishing is that they could do this person because that's not fair for my little brother that they killed it away. According to the victim's brother, the body was partially buried and covered in dirt and burnt wood.

Jose's classmates say some students often hang out in that desolate area. I had a couple of friends who had some altercations back there with people who are higher narcotics and stuff like that. Miami-Dade police say the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be trauma. The victim's family is unsure who could have killed their loved one in such a gruesome manner, but they are begging for answers. And some classmates also mentioned that he was bullied, however, again, this is not confirmed. This is still an ongoing investigation with a discovery of the body and the medical examiner's determination of death by trauma. There were a lot of questions.

Why was Jose in those woods known for school-aged delinquency and who could have done this? With no answers to these questions, his family was with this story. Hi everyone. My name is Anna Morales. Jose Amaya was my cousin and he disappeared on June 28th, 2015. He studied at Homestead Job Corporation. He asked permission at the school to go buy some food, but he never returned. At 6pm his parents received a call from the school, and they reported to the police, but the police could not do anything until after 72 hours. His family didn't wait and they decided to look for him. Days of desperation and without rest, no answers and no help.

Nobody knew about him. After two days of looking on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, the family without the police decided to go to the school and look for him, a very dark area. His brothers noticed behind the school there was a burned area and they took a closer look. There they found two feet. They contacted police. At midnight, the police arrived and the body was discovered and removed. The body was unrecognizable and decomposed. His brothers could not resist seeing the body.

They were crazy with grief, hoping it was not Jose. They did not tell his parents about this, but on Thursday evening, the police informed the family that it was Jose's body, my cousin. We are in disbelief. His mother is in shock. Today, early morning, the agents revealed that it was a crime. He was 17 years old. He could not defend himself.

A crime is bad, but what Jose suffered was horrible. Jose was a peaceful young man, and he was fun with his friends. Some thought he was anti-social, but he was shy. During the weekends, Jose worked at the flea market selling ice cream to help his family. We have to affront the situation and pray for his soul, and for the one or those who committed this crime. My intention is to help his family with the costs of the funeral. They are people that came to this country for a better way of life, and they have been working hard, but they cannot afford all the expenses. A funeral is expensive, and especially when it takes you by surprise.

No donation is too small, a penny a dollar will be a great help to them. We do not know what happened, but this can happen to your brothers, sisters, or any member of your family. Please help us. God bless you and thank you for reading this. With the family and community in shock, justice was left to the police. It was over a month later that police arrested the first suspect on Tuesday, August 11th

in Pasco County, Florida. On the following Thursday, August 13th, police arrested two more suspects in Miami-Dade County. Police have arrested three people for the murder of a 17-year-old that is Jose Guardado. His body was found partially buried in a wooded area just outside of the homestead job corps, which is a dorm for at-risk teenagers. Now, two of the suspects here were arrested late last night. The third was also found in Pasco County. Police are saying that they knew Guardado because they were all students at the Job Corps at the time and now all three have been charged with second-degree murder. 19-year-old

Christian Rao Cologne was arrested in Pasco County. 18-year-old Jonathan Isaiah Lucas and 20-year-old Cahime Justin Arbello were arrested in Miami-Dade County. All three police said were known as bullies around the school. Their arrests were not the last. Another suspect, 18-year-old Desiree Alicia Strickland was implicated in the crime as well. She was arrested on Wednesday, August 19th. Strickland's arrest after David states the three males confessed and included Strickland's involvement in a conspiracy to kill

the victim two weeks in the making. Investigators say the weapon was a machete used to kill the victim and then detectives say the body was buried in a grave already dug when the plan was created. Police say the four got rid

of the machete and the shovel used to dig the grave as well as the victim's belongings and their own clothing which was stained by blood. Cologne, Lucas and Arbelo had confessed implicating Strickland. Our arrest affidavit alleged the following. The group conspired to kill Jose two weeks before carrying out the plan. They dug a shallow grave and hid a machete in the woods a few days before they intended to kill him. Arbello, recognized by Jose's family as his roommate, was described by the police as the ringleader and the one who actually

carried out the vicious attack. The group lured Jose to the woods that night, where Arbello ambushed him with the machete, striking him several times while others watched. Strickland complained about missing the initial attack while she was urinating in the woods. As Jose fell to the ground wounded and disabled, the group ordered him into the shallow grave. Jose put up one last fight, but our bellow struck him again multiple times in the face

until it caved in. He then pushed Jose's body into the grave. They used the victims' clothes to wipe Jose's blood from a nearby fence. Then, they disposed of the shovel and machete and burned their clothes as well as Jose's. They buried the body face down, partially covered with dirt and burnt wood. Most of the group returned to campus, but Strickland and Arbello stayed behind to have sex, not far from the sight of the murder.

The police also alleged the attack stemmed from a possible debt owed to our bellow, but the true motive remains unclear. Upon being arrested, Strickland was anything but calm. I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'm gonna be violent to now. He's a son of a bitch. You can get me my dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down.

You can get me my dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad!

I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'm gonna talk to you when he comes down. You can get me my dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'll be called if you want dad! I'll be called if you want dad! Okay, and I worry about it. Okay calm down. My explain is going on. Okay, so you run your rest You have The detective only wanted to hear Strickland's account of the event, but he was wary of his own safety, because Strickland was acting hysterical. All right. You may end. And it says, I stay the same dog, okay? I didn't do anything. All right.

I want to know what you were involved in. I'm not saying it's murdering anybody. I want to know what you were involved in. I'm not saying it's murdering anybody. I want to know what you were involved in. I'm not saying it's murdering anybody. I want to know what you were involved in. I'm not saying it's murdering anybody.

I want to know what you were involved in. I'm not saying it's murdering anybody. I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I just, I to speak to me after I meet you, right, I will listen to your side of the story. And we will determine that at that time. No, I don't want to. I didn't do anything. No. You want to talk to me, no? Yes, but I didn't do that.

You got to talk to me. I don't want to hear you still eating, because we got to get inside, man. Yes, who are you? Your dad is downstairs, we right now. Let's get in. That's all there. No, no, no, no, home. Let's get this. Let's go there. Let's get this.

Let's get this. Get back to the hotel. Why? You think that's right on your own, your own restaurant. With the reality of her situation not really sinking in, the detective explains over and over again that she is under arrest and cannot speak with her dad. He tells her about the statements of our bellow, Lucas, and Colone, implicating her dad. He tells her about the statements of our bellow Lucas and Colone, implicating her involvement. You can just go back and on call. You can talk to me and tell me you're involved in the whole case. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Strickland adamantly denied having any involvement with the wrongdoing but remained combative throughout the interview. She was uncooperative. She kicked chairs, screamed, and apparently shoved the detective and headbutted his chest. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. I'm not your parent. After the detective left the room, Strickland could be seen trying to free herself from the handcuffs. She went as far as to remove the screws from the electrical socket on the wall, using them to try and pick the cuffs.

She eventually gave up and instead scratched Miami Police Department go to hell on the table instead. When Strickland appeared in court, her demeanor was the complete opposite, almost nonchalant. Well, one of four young murder suspects is officially charged. The teen girl could face a grand jury indictment for a alleged role in the savage murder of a classmate in a homestead. NBC's extroported Claudia DeCompo has the new details. The first and second of the week. The second and second of the week.

The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week.

The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second

of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second of the week. The second and second second of the week. The second and second second and second and second. The second and second and second and second and second. The second and second and second and second. The second and second and second and second. The second and second and second and second. The second and second and Yeah, all those she's facing several charges, including murder. She seemed relatively calm before

the judge and when addressing the public defender. I need to know if you're willing to let the public defender's office represent you. Strickland is facing the serious allegations along with claims that she disobeyed police. When she is told she is under arrest, she pushes the homicide detective kicks several items inside of the interview room.

She was now charged with resisting an officer with violence, battery on an officer, and criminal mischief, in addition to murder. Arbello appeared in court on August 25. He was silent as his attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Arbello's grandmother expressed her shock. I can't even wrap my mind around it. This is Kahim Arbello's grandmother, who raised him after his mother died when he was a young boy.

She says she simply can't believe her grandson would commit such a terrible crime, specifically because his own mother was murdered. As a grandmother, there's no words to say about, I can't describe my feeling just despair for us and for that family. We don't understand it, we don't, there's no word, like I keep saying, there's no words. There are no words, but there was a previous criminal record for Ar bellow.

His juvenile record showed arrests for exhibiting a weapon at school and for petty theft. Our bellow was now charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and four counts of tampering with a witness or victim. Cologne faced the judge two days after our bellow on August 27th. He wasn't handling the ordeal very well. Rocking back and forth, Christian Cologne faced a judge today. Cologne is one of four others accused of attacking 17-year-old Jose Guardado with a machete and killing him. Cologne was in bond court last week, wearing a suicide prevention vest just like today.

Mr. Cologne appeared to be in very bad psychological shape. He's shaking, he's very nervous. He was obviously frightened and half to death. He will be seen by two doctors that are court appointed. They will evaluate him. Cologne's attorneys made a serious effort to have him deemed unfit to stand trial. Looking down and clutching his face, Christian Cologne claims he's insane. We believe that Mr. Cologne is suffering from psychoses and we believe that he is not competent

at this time to stand trial. He indicated that he doesn't get sleep. No more than three hours, I believe he said, because of the voices. Cologne's mental state has been in question since his arrest. He told detectives his repeated drug abuse, let him to have psychotic episodes. At a couple points during the interview, he would say things like shut up or stop talking as though they were happening during the interview. The judge ruled that Colones is not mentally incompetent and he will stand trial. A judge deemed Christian Colone competent to stand trial in spite of his claims to hear

voices and have psychotic episodes. On August 28th, Jonathan Lucas made his appearance in court. Six days later, on September 3rd, another arrest was made. 23-year-old Joseph Michael Cabrera was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri by US Marshals. Another arrest has been made in a teen hacking death. 23-year-old Joseph Michael Cabrera was found in St. Louis, Missouri. The US Marshals arrested a fifth person in connection with the murder of 70-year-old Jose Guarado.

A family continues to mourn the loss of their loved one, who, according to police reports, suffered a brutal, premeditated death. Now police say a fifth suspect, Joseph Cabrera, will be joining these four behind bars in Miami. I feel happy because we wanted that they have to arrest everybody because we don't want to know those criminals to stay on the street. It's really hard because my brother was like, I was an honest kid. The victim's own brother found a Mayaguardado's body.

He says he can't stop thinking about that terrifying moment on July 1st. Every time I pass by there, I, I can't stop looking back. The quintet appeared before a grand jury on September 16th, and were all indicted for first-degree murder. They faced the death penalty of convicted, but the legal system is changing in Florida. All five of those charged have entered not guilty pleas, and their lawyers have gone to great lengths to try to keep the discovery in this particular case, secret and not open to the public.

Fast forward to this year, January 3, 2017. Circuit court judge, Devah Tunis, closes the courtroom to the public in fear of not being able to find a fair and impartial jury due to the pervasive publicity surrounding the case. Cabrera rejects a plea deal on January 6. In return for cooperating against the others, he could have gotten as few as 10 years in prison with a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit murder. In court, his lawyer's argument is he wasn't there that day and is innocent.

argument is he wasn't there that day and is innocent. In March of this year, the Florida legislature adopted a new set-and-sing law requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for death before the judge could impose a death sentence. And with that, the state changed its plan. Prosecutors today waive the possibility of the death penalty if convicted for four out of the five suspects in the brutal death of 17-year-old Jose Guardado. Based on these children's ages, I think that they did exactly the right thing in this matter. It's life. They're all very young and mature.

It's a very unusual case. The evidence is questionable as to Mr. Strickland and with the changing landscape of the death penalty here in Florida and is changing all the time now. But the death penalty still stands for Kahim Arbello. Detectives believe he was the one who hacked the victim to death

with a machete while the other suspects watched. Even though four out of the five defendants will avoid death, they won't avoid spending the rest of their lives in prison if convicted of first degree murder. The death penalty is now off the table for Christian Cologne, Desiree Strickland, Jonathan Lucas, and Joseph Cabrera, but not Cahime Arbello.

If convicted, Arbello could be sentenced to death and the others could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Homestead Job Corps has been permanently closed since Jose's death. The GoFundMe page set up for the family raised $7,587, while over the goal of $5,000. It is still up and taking donations. It has been over two years since Jose was ambushed by five fellow students and brutally murdered with just over a month before his 18th birthday. That milestone, he will never be able to celebrate.

Another normal day in the suburbs ends with the stark reality that the lives of six students and their families are forever changed for no good reason. Referencing her home country of El Salvador, Lucia Guardado said, I brought my son from there because they were killing people. I never imagined they would do something like that to my son here. Now, like Apex, Homestead realizes that violence can happen anywhere to anyone. And all it takes is a bad idea and a machete. That does it for another episode of Sword and Scale.

We hope you've enjoyed it. And I'm not sure if enjoys the right word there. But thank you for joining us. If you do like the show, please head on over to our social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And just a quick note, we're getting towards the end of the year here with the holidays coming up. We'd like to give our team a bit of a break since they've been working so hard all year

to continue to provide episode after episode, not only the regular show, but plus as well. And we've done this for a full year now with absolutely no breaks. So we're gonna go ahead and take a break at the end of the year just so you know. Our last regular episode will be on December 10th and we'll also be putting out a plus episode

on that date for all of you Patreon supporters. And then we'll be back sometime in the middle or end of January with a whole new season, season five. And we've got some pretty great stuff lined up for that already. So you're going to want to stick around. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know so that doesn't come as a big surprise. But if you need something to hold you over until we come back, remember that we still have 17 episodes of Sword and Scale Plus available on Patreon for just $5 a month. It's well worth it, and there's tons of additional Plus content and merch and merch discount codes in there if you want to get something for someone for

the holidays, head on over to patreon.com slash sword and scale. Until next time, if you see someone with a machete, go the other way, and stay safe. Thank you. you