Chilling remarks of teenage stabbers who killed boy, 14, in Wyoming mall while he tried to shield his girlfriend
The chilling comments of two teenagers accused of stabbing a boy to death at a Wyoming mall just days before the killing have been heard in court.
Jarreth (JJ) Plunkett and Dominique Harris, both 15, are being tried as adults for the murder of Robert “Bobby” Maher, 14.
The two are accused of fatally stabbing Maher to death on April 7 as he tried to protect his girlfriend, who was being followed by the pair.
It has now emerged that just two days before the murder, one of the suspects, according to police, stated that he wanted to ‘strip’ Maher.
Casper police Detective Tiffany Elhart testified before a preliminary hearing that Harris told officers that Plunkett had said he wanted to “take that guy away,” Cowboy stands daily reports.
Robert Maher, 14, (who went by Bobby) was stabbed to death at a Wyoming mall on April 7
Jarreth (JJ) Plunkett and Dominique Harris, both 15, are accused of fatally stabbing the teen (pictured) as he tried to protect his girlfriend
Casper police Detective Tiffany Elhart testified before a preliminary hearing that Harris told officers that Plunkett had said he wanted to “strip” that guy before the stabbing at Eastridge Mall
Elhart added that during a separate conversation, the defendants also asked Maher’s best friend if he wanted to get involved in a “blood debt.”
The poignant comments were part of evidence presented by prosecutors who successfully argued that the accused killers should be tried as adults.
Elhart told the court that Maher was first put on the suspect’s radar during spring break after he asked them if they were “freaks” after seeing them enter a portaloo together.
Other evidence included disturbing video of the stabbing at the Eastridge Mall, which showed Maher being stabbed twice in the stomach with a stolen knife.
Elhart said surveillance video from a nearby Target showed Plunkett and Harris stealing two 3 1/2-inch kitchen knives on the day of the attack.
Interviews with them and Maher’s girlfriend revealed that after they saw her at the mall, they began following her and asking if Maher would show up, Elhart said.
Maher’s girlfriend Haley Bressler then called him and asked him to come to the mall, Elhart said, adding that when he arrived another teen told Harris and Plunkett he didn’t think a fight would be fair.
Harris told investigators that Plunkett “pulled the knife out of his pocket, held it to his chest and told him he was going to give it to him,” Elhart testified.
According to police interviews, an earlier incident had occurred in an Evansville park between Maher and the suspects, who claimed he called them “freaks” after seeing them go into a portal potty together.
Maher’s friend told police that Dom knocked Maher to the ground before JJ came up and stabbed him just outside the mall
Robert ‘Bobby’ Maher’s father, Robert Maher Sr., told DailyMail.com: ‘It’s a nightmare we can’t get out of our heads – it’s replaying over and over again’
Although video of the brutal attack was entered into evidence, it has not yet been released.
Cowboy State Daily reports that the footage shows Plunkett pushing Maher and then punching him in the face before Harris body slams the victim to the ground.
While holding him down, Plunkett dives in and stabs his body twice with a knife before both defendants retreat.
Plunkett is charged with first-degree murder and he and Harris are charged as adults with criminal conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault and robbery and larceny.
Plunkett faces life in prison or even the death penalty if convicted on the murder charge.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a call about an unconscious boy outside the Hibachi Supreme Buffet at the mall.
According to an affidavit, Maher was stabbed twice during “an altercation that just occurred.”
Witnesses told police that the alleged attackers, who they said were named JJ and Dom, were wearing masks with a hooded balaclava.
Bobby’s heartbroken girlfriend Hailey described him as ‘the bravest kid’ at vigil for murdered 14-year-old
Maher is pictured with a girlfriend in a tribute shared on Facebook after his death. It is unclear if she is one of the girls he was protecting when he died
Flowers are left at memorials for Robert Dean Maher in Casper, Wyoming
In a police interview, Plunkett reportedly said Maher told him to “put the knife away, this isn’t fair.”
Plunkett claimed Jarreth responded, “I don’t fight fair.”
Bobby’s father told DailyMail.com that he arrived at the hospital and saw medics fighting in vain to save his son.
‘I broke down, I was inconsolable for a while. As Bobby’s body lay on the stretcher, I told him how much I loved him and begged him to please come back.”
He added that the family is struggling to adjust to life without him.
“Mornings are the worst,” he said. ‘When I wake up every morning, it’s a nightmare come true.
‘It takes me hours in the morning before I can even talk. His mother and siblings are devastated that we can barely function. I would never wish this on anyone.’