The Mower County attorney will request a grand jury be convened to consider first-degree murder charges against five suspects in Friday’s double homicide in Austin.

Thursday, July 06, 2000

The Mower County attorney will request a grand jury be convened to consider first-degree murder charges against five suspects in Friday’s double homicide in Austin.

Patrick A. Oman said today he will make that request at the formal arraignment of the defendants scheduled for July 18 in Mower County Third Judicial District Court.

According to Oman, state law allows for first-degree murder charges to be filed when a non-premeditated murder occurs during the commission of an aggravated robbery.

Vernon Neal Powers, Jr., 27, St. Paul, Scott Perry Christian, 29, St. Paul, his brother David Kenneth Christian, 28, St. Paul, and Jenea Larae-Nichol Weinand, 19, St. Paul, each were charged with two serious felony counts of aiding and abetting murder in the second degree and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery in the first degree.

Mower County Third Judicial District Judge Rysavy set their bail at $1 million each after Oman described each as a flight risk, during their first appearances in court Wednesday. The fifth suspect was Janet Elizabeth Hall, 19, South Minneapolis. Hall also was charged with two serious felony counts of aiding and abetting murder in the second degree and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery in the first degree.

Because Hall has no prior criminal record, the county attorney asked for $200,000 bond for the fifth suspect and the judge complied.

Juan Vincente Ramirez, 41, and Raul Pedro Guiterrez, 26, were shot and killed in Room 28 at the Downtown Motel, 209 First Ave. SE in the early morning hours on Friday.

Benjamin Moreno Hernandez, 20, suffered gunshot wounds to both hands and is recovering from his injuries at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.