Two Queen Creek-area boys will be going to trial May 5th for their involvement in the 2007 murder of 17-year-old Amber Hess, according to a Pinal County spokesman.
Todd Hoke and Nicolas Castillo, both 16 at the time of the murder, will be charged as adults with first-degree murder, burglary, theft, tampering with evidence and abandonment or concealment of a body, according to Pinal County spokesman Konstantinos Kalaitzidiz.
According to police, Hess’ burned body was found in the desert northwest of Florence on June 25, 2007.
Fingerprints and an anonymous tip let police to Hoke and Castillo, who attended Coolidge High School with Hess. Through an investigation, police found that the boys had planned the girl’s murder for weeks because they did not like her, police said.
A status review for the case has been planned for Oct. 6, Kalaitzidiz said.
