NEW YORK _ Two teens were arraigned as adults Wednesday in the stabbing death of Tessa Majors, the Barnard College freshman who was murdered in December while jogging through Morningside Park.
The alleged knifer, Rashaun Weaver, 14, was charged as an adult with robbery and murder Saturday; his DNA was discovered beneath the victim's fingernails, authorities said. The second suspect, Luciano Lewis, 14, surrendered to police early Wednesday and was hit with the same charges.
The teens were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, where, in low voices, they pleaded not guilty, as relatives, lawyers, prosecutors and Majors' father looked on.
Both defendants face a minimum sentence of five years to life in prison. Some in the courtroom gasped when Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Matthews Bogdanos announced the possible sentence.
A 13-year-old who was also allegedly involved in the robbery was charged days after the Dec. 11 murder. Because he is charged as a juvenile in Family Court, the Daily News is withholding his name.
The arrests came after a thorough investigation, Bogdanos told Judge Gayle Roberts.
"This was no rush to judgment," Bogdanos said. "Rather, this was a thorough, careful, methodical, comprehensive investigation over the course of two months."
Bogdanos said the investigation so far involves more than four dozen witnesses, more than 100 pages of evidence and more than 1,100 grand jury minutes as detectives pieced together the facts of the case.
Bogdanos also mentioned a surveillance video that also offered some clues.
"Ms. Majors at about 6:43 that evening entered Morningside Park on the east side," Bogdanos said. "In order to save 12 blocks, she cut through the park.
"At almost exactly the same time, the three defendants entered the park from the east side as well, but from a different entrance. They are dressed in a very distinctive mater _ very distinctive pants, sneakers and backpacks. The three of them were together all day and are on video together."
The boys homed in on a man and a woman in the park before they turned their attention to Majors, said Bogdanos.
"As the defendants went down that second set of stairs, they literally crossed paths, ran into her," the prosecutor said. "Approximately a minute later, someone else overhears on that second landing a male voice screaming, 'Run your s _ t. Give me your phone. Got some weed? Give me that too.'
"A few moments pass and the witness hears a female voice scream among other things, 'Help, I'm being robbed.'"
Bogdanos said Majors struggled with the attackers on the landing. Lewis put her in a bear hug or headlock to keep her from running off.
Weaver stabbed her four times _ including one stab to the right ventricle of her heart, the prosecutor said.
"She had five minutes to live," Bogdanos said.
Majors, mortally wounded, staggered up the park steps seeking help. At the same time, the three boys ran out of the park, passing many of the same video cameras that had captured them entering, Bogdanos said.
Investigators found evidence in three locations. They found her headphones on the ground and a hair tie about 10 feet away.
"We are committed to holding these young people accountable, and equally committed to a fair process which safeguards their rights," said Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance. "This is how we will achieve true justice for Tessa and her loved ones."
Police picked up Weaver on Friday night in the lobby of the Taft Houses on Fifth Avenue in Harlem. He had dodged detectives for weeks _ including one instance where he had agreed to surrender, sources said.
Cops believed Majors bit Weaver on the hand as she fought for her life, and that his family hid him away so the wound could heal.
"Tessa Majors' death is a tragedy and we send our condolences to her family, friends and community," said a statement from Neighborhood Defender Service, which is defending Lewis.
In its statement, the service said Lewis has no criminal history, and "should not be charged as an adult. In our shared history, we have seen too often the impact of hasty condemnations of children. Let us take these past experiences as a warning and allow due process to play out in our young client's case, so that justice can prevail."
