MAKIA CONEY - 17 yo (2010) - Jacksonville FL

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The search is on for a 17-year-old girl was last seen about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday on the campus at University Christian School.The
school released a statement Thursday morning saying the upperclassman
was reported missing after finishing classes for the day and leaving
campus. School officials said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was
notified and a search and investigation was launched."Our thoughts and prayers are with this student and their family and we are praying for a safe return," said a school statement.Media sources have confirmed the missing girl's name as Makia Coney and talked with
her family at their Northside home. Neither the family nor police had
any new information Thursday morning.Wednesday night, police
would not say whether this missing-persons case was in any way
connected with a body found near Wolfson High School on Powers Avenue
about 6 p.m. Wednesday. Anyone who knows Coney's whereabouts is asked to call the JSO at 904-630-0500.

* * * *

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Homicide
detectives said a person on a bicycle found a body on Powers Avenue
late Wednesday afternoon. In a separate investigation, the Jacksonville
Sheriff's Office is working a case of a missing teen from University
Christian School.Lt. Larry Schmitt with JSO said a body was
found just before 6 p.m. in the 7600 block of Powers Avenue, several
hundred yards from Baker Skinner Park and not far from Wolfson High
School.Schmitt said there was obvious trauma to the body.The
body was found as a separate group of officers were searching for a
missing teenage girl last seen about 3:15 p.m. on the campus of
University Christian School. The school, on University Boulevard West
near Interstate 95, is approximately 3 miles from where the body was
found.Authorities have not linked the missing girl to the body that was found. Police said foul play is suspected in both cases.Police
ask that anyone with information on either case call the sheriff's
office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Northside teenager is still missing and
police say they believe she was murdered. Officials are searching
Makia's MySpace page for potential clues.
Makia Coney hasn't been heard from or seen since Wednesday
afternoon. Police say there is a three hour gap from the time Makia
left University Christian School to the time a body was found in the
woods several miles away in Baker Skinner Park.
Although police say they believe the missing body found is that of
Makia, the Medical Examiner has not positively identified the body as
the 17-year-old, but they suspect it's her.
Makia wasn't at school when her parents went to pick her up Wednesday afternoon.
University Christian School issued a statement shortly after 2:30 pm Thursday. It began: Our
hearts are heavy as we deal with the loss of one of our beloved
University students. Junior, Makia Coney tragically lost her life early
yesterday evening.

READ THE ENTIRE STATEMENT
Makia's MySpace page has several pictures of the teen with friends.
Police are looking into a message posted on her page by her for any
clues.
On her MySpace page, Makia called herself "Miss Kia," and the
headline for her page is "Seven More Days." Makia last login is shown
as Feb. 2, meaning seven days later would have been the ninth, she
disappeared Feb. 10.
Makia's MySpace page also lists she's 'In a Relationship.' However,
police wouldn't confirm that and won't speculate if Makia was
attempting to meet with someone in the area or if there is any link to
her MySpace page and her disappearance.
Police said they are well-aware of the message, but won't speculate
what the message could mean. Police are, however, looking into all her
contacts with friends on the Internet.
"That's the new way for kids to communicate these days. It's part of
what we do; it's part of what we're doing in this case, and really all
cases," said Assistant Chief Tom Hackney with the Jacksonville
Sheriff's Office.
Over the past 24 hours, police have also taken to the streets,
knocking on doors of potentially hundreds of people who live in the
apartments directly across the street from where the body was found.
JSO SENT OUT A FLYER

"My son said they knocked on his door last night and asked him some questions," said neighbor Michael Harrell.
Neighbors said they are cautious and fearful.
"You never know what is going on next to your home...it's scary
because it our neighborhood," said neighbor Geraldine Guitteriez.
For now, police are continuing to sort through potential leads,
whether they are in the neighborhood or cyberspace. They are also
asking anyone with information to come forward.
"It's the little bit of information that can break this case wide open," said Hackney.
Makia's friends and a family spokesperson said
earlier this evening they believed the body found is that of Makia.
A Facebook page for Makia has been created.
Police aren't saying if there is a motive for her disappearance.
If you have any information on this case, please call JSO at (904) 633-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police are
waiting for confirmation from the medical examiner, but the family of a
missing 17-year-old girl said the body found along Powers Avenue
Wednesday evening is that of Makia Coney.

About 11:30 a.m. Thursday, family spokesman and
City Councilman Johnny Gaffney confirmed the worst news."The
family definitely knows it is the body," Gaffney said. "It is the young
lady -- very sweet lady -- and the mother, the father, they are
terribly upset."Homicide detectives said a person on a bicycle
reported seeing the body just off Powers Avenue just before 6 p.m.
Police and evidence technicians spent the night gathering evidence in
the 7600 block of Powers Avenue, several hundred yards from Baker
Skinner Park and not far from Wolfson High School.Jacksonville
Sheriff's Office Lt. Larry Schmitt said there was obvious trauma to the
body, but would not provide any details, including whether the victim
was male or female.About
the same time the body was found, 17-year-old Makia Coney was reported
missing. She was last seen about 3:15 p.m. leaving the campus of
University Christian School, where she is a student.The school, on University Boulevard West near Interstate 95, is approximately 3 miles from where the body was found."As
of this morning, we strongly think that those two cases are connected,
however, we are not able to confirm the identity of the body," Schmitt
said at 10:30 a.m. "We don't have any suspect information or persons of
interest information.""It's a very open investigation now,"
Chief Tom Hackney at a 5:30 p.m. news conference. There's a three hour
window that we don't know where she was or who she was with. If she was
with somebody, was she with them voluntarily? Was she with them at
force?"University
Christian released a statement Thursday confirming the loss of one of
its students, saying it is working closely with JSO in their
investigation."Our hearts are heavy as we deal with the loss of
one of our beloved University students," the school said in the
statement. "Junior, Makia Coney tragically lost her life early
yesterday evening. Makia was a fabulous young lady with an infectious
smile and a huge heart. Her smile will be missed each day in our halls.
Please join us as we lift her family up in prayer during this difficult
time."The school has canceled all extra-curricular activities
and meetings for Thursday afternoon and evening. The school said in the
statement a special assembly has been held to support the student body
during this time of grief.Police continued to investigate at both the scene where the body was found and the school through the day."As a parent, sure, I'd be concerned," Schmitt said. "We don't know who that person is that put that body there."

Police said they found a body in a wooded area off Powers Avenue.

Gaffney spoke on behalf of the family, saying it was
"undescribable how badly she was beaten.""I'm
very upset. This is one of my constituents as well as (I) live in the
neighborhood," Gaffney said. "There's a lot of unanswered questions."Coney's
MySpace.com page listed her mood as "blessed." One of her recent posts
says: "For everyday you live up to THANK GOD because you could be here
today and GONE tomorrow so live yuh life to the best!!!!!"Police
were going door-to-door at an apartment complex across the street from
the where Coney's body was found and a police helicopter was assisting
a search of the area. Officers were also passing out flyers in the
neighborhood asking to speak to anyone who has seen her or any
suspicious activity near Wolfson High School Wednesday afternoon.Anyone
with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 904-630-0500
or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. University Christian has contributed
$5,000 to the existing Crime Stoppers $1,000 reward in this case,
bringing the total to $6,000 for information leading to an arrest in
the case.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Classmates and friends at University Christian
honored Makia Coney at Friday night's basketball game. The teen's body
was found on Wednesday about three hours after she was last seen at
school.
Several of Coney's friends held an impromptu prayer service in the pouring rain before the game.
About 20 teenagers stood shoulder to shoulder around several
bouquets of purple flowers placed at the base of the school's flag.
"When we heard what happened, it was very hard on us. So we came
together as a family," said Matt Kramer, a sophomore at the school.
The students say it's been a frightening and painful week for them.
"But at least we know she can't feel pain anymore and she's in a
better place with God praise dancing. That is what she loved to do --
praise, dance with Jesus Christ," said Kaitlyn Sherman, sophomore.
Inside the gymnasium, a poster signed by Coney's friends hung above
the bleachers. A small box with Coney's class picture sat at the ticket
table. School officials said students helped collect several hundred
dollars for Coney's family.
Before the game, Principal Heath Nivens led the crowd in prayer.
"Friday was a difficult day at school, missing her in the hallway, dealing with the process of grief," said Nivens.
Among the school colors in the gymnasium was the color purple. It was Coney's favorite color.
Players tied up their jersey sleeves with purple ribbons and
cheerleaders made sure their purple bows were perfectly tied around
their half ponytails.
"I was thinking of Makia and I was thinking I wanted to make it
perfect for her because she was absolutely perfect girl. She was
Christian and Godly and knew right from wrong," said Stacey Lee Pena, a
cheerleader for the school.
The school's principal said several other private schools extended
help on Friday by providing grief counselors for University Christian
students.
Friday, police confirmed the 17-year-old student was murdered. Thursday evening the family said they believed the body found was Makia, as did University Christian, which released a statement.

Family and friends mourned the loss today. Friends visited the home to show support to Makia's family, bringing food.
Makia's body was found around 6 p.m. Wednesday in a wooded area in Baker Skinner Park off Powers Avenue, less than three miles from University Christian.

A candle light vigil has been planned for Saturday night at 6, at Life through the Word Ministries, 4943 Beach Boulevard.

Call (904) 737-6700 for more information.

A fund for Makia has been setup at Vystar Credit Union.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police
announced early Saturday that they have charged two University
Christian School students in Wednesday's slaying a classmate,
17-year-old Makia Coney. Charles Roy Southern, 17, and Connor
Julian Pridgen, 16, turned themselves in Friday night.

After being
interviewed by detectives, each was charged with one count of
murder. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Larry Schmitt said
Southern and Pridgen left campus about 3:15 p.m. with Coney in their
pickup truck. After riding around, they went to a secluded area off
Powers Avenue about 3 miles from the school.Schmitt said each of the boys shot Coney in the head.
Police said the returned to University Christian campus by 4:15 p.m.,
about an hour before Coney was reported missing. A bicyclist reported
finding the body about two hours later.
Schmitt said the pair were friends of Coney. While police said they
both admitted to killing Coney, there was no clear motive for the
crime. Schmitt said there was no indication that the victim was
sexually molested."The situation is a parent's worst nightmare, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the girl's family," Schmitt said.With
Southern and Pridgen booked into jail, the investigation continues into
where the two teenagers got the guns used in the slaying.University
Christian issued a statement Saturday morning that they were shocked at
this development and that they would continue to cooperate with police
in every way. A school spokesman was going to talk with the media at 10
a.m.On Friday, Coney's family released a statement asking for continued prayers."Makia
was loved by many and we take consolation in the fact that our faith is
stronger than any weapon of evil that (has) risen to bring this
senseless tragedy into our midst," the statement said.Friday night, students who attended a girl's basketball game at University Christian remembered Makia by wearing purple ribbons.
"We're never going to forget her," one student said. "She was always in a good mood, very happy person.""Not
only was she one of the most popular folks in our school, she just had
a great smile," another student added. "I don't think I remember really
ever seeing her have a bad day as I walked the halls."School officials said it was heartwarming to see the student body come together at a time of tragedy."One
of the things that we pride ourselves on at University Christian is our
sense of family and community," a school official said. "You hate that
it's a tragedy like this that brings that out.A vigil will be held for Makia on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Life through the Word Ministries on Beach Boulevard.

Saturday was supposed to be a celebration. Makia Ann Coney
and her family had planned on having a joint birthday party at
Jacksonville's Dave & Buster's for her and her sister. Instead,
Coney's family clung to each other and sobbed as dozens of pink and
purple balloons floated into a somber, gray sky at a candlelight vigil
to honor the 17-year-old University Christian School student, who was
found dead Wednesday. Lt. Larry Schmitt of the Jacksonville
Sheriff's Office said at a news conference early Saturday morning that
two teenage friends and schoolmates of Coney told investigators that
they shot her to death. They were both charged in the slaying. Schmitt
said Charles Roy Southern, 17, and Connor Julian Pridgen, 16,
voluntarily went to police Friday night and said they shot Coney in the
head. Police said the pair did not reveal a clear motive for the shooting. Coney's
mother clung to one of her daughters as dozens of relatives, friends
and well-wishers hoisted lit candles outside the family's Southside
church. Many wore memorial T-shirts with Coney's picture, and even more
had splashes of purple, her favorite color, mixed into their wardrobes. All
official comment from the family has been routed through a spokesman,
who wasn't available for comment, and her parents declined to comment
at the vigil. But the Times-Union spoke with one family member
who didn't want to be identified. She said Pridgen was good friends
with Coney, but wasn't as well acquainted with Southern. She
also said Pridgen spoke with Coney's father on the phone shortly after
his daughter disappeared and told the worried parent that he would post
a notice online to help with the search. Pridgen's Facebook page carries two postings about Coney. The
first, apparently by Pridgen and dated Wednesday at 6:46 p.m., asks
anyone who had seen Coney in the previous three hours to contact him or
the school. The second, written Thursday afternoon, said he was praying for Coney and her family, and again asks for information. "God
has a plan no matter how mysterious or incomprehensible it is to us,"
the posting says. "We must know that everything happens for a reason
and it is all part of God's plan." He also joined a Facebook group called "PRAY FOR MAKIA CONEY," which has gained about 3,000 members in less than a week. A Facebook profile for Southern couldn't be found. Schmitt
said Coney left the school campus about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in
Southern's pickup truck. The three drove around the Southside area and
visited a few locations, then ended up in the 7400 block of Powers
Avenue. Schmitt said the two teens both shot Coney in the head
at that location and left her for dead about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, then
returned to the school campus. Coney's body was found on Powers Avenue near Baker Skinner Park shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday. Police
said it's unclear how Southern and Pridgen obtained the weapons and
that the investigation was continuing. It appears Coney was not
sexually assaulted. If convicted, the teens could face life in
prison. The U.S. Supreme Court has banned death penalties for crimes
committed before age 18. Meeting with reporters hours after the
arrests, University Christian Superintendent Frank Ciresi said he would
not discuss the background of either suspect for fear of impacting the
police investigation. He said the school has been scarred by the slaying. "By
no means has life moved on and by no means is there a sense of
normalcy," Ciresi said. "Our students have lost a great friend. We've
lost a student that we loved dearly. "She was just a shining
light in our halls every day," he said. "... we will grieve her loss
and miss her presence for a long time." And the fact that two schoolmates stand accused of killing their peer adds another dimension to the school's pain. "At
a time like this, we have to be proactive about speaking to our
students about fear, and about ... when people breach your trust," he
said. He said that would happen when classes resume Tuesday. There are
no classes scheduled Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday."It's
been a very difficult thing to juggle the pain and the loss that we
felt for Makia and the hurt that we feel for her family," Ciresi said,
"and also to make sure that we really focus ... enough attention on our
students who are dealing with pain and loss and emotions that they're
not prepared to handle at this age." The school will deal with it like a family, he said, and will come out all right. "My
kids go to this school. I have three children here, one as young as a
fourth-grader. They'll be in school on Tuesday. ... I won't have any
reservations," he said. Pridgen's Facebook page identifies him as a sophomore who entered University Christian as a freshman. "I'm
laid back and chilled out. I like to party and go out. I love
restaurants," the page says. It also says Pridgen wanted to serve in
the Marine Corps, then study architecture at the University of Alabama. R.C.
Williams said he played football with Pridgen at University Christian.
He described him as a quiet teen who seemed to be hiding something just
below the surface. "He had a stoic demeanor," Williams said. "I never saw him get angry, but he always acted like he could get mad easily." Stacey
Lee said she watched as Pridgen became more and more agitated at school
as the investigation into Coney's death continued. "He started
acting real angry when I saw him at school," Lee said. "His personality
really changed those few days. It's scary to me when I think about it." Southern
is a junior who grew up in Missouri and moved to Jacksonville two years
ago, said his uncle, Lee Southern, who was raising him. His mother died
about eight years ago, and he lived with other family members before
coming to Jacksonville. He had played football and wrestled at
University Christian, and had talked to recruiters about entering the
Marine Corps after graduation. He enjoyed riding motorcycles,
his uncle said, spent time washing his Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, mowed
lawns in the summer around his neighborhood off Julington Creek Road -
and kept out of trouble. "You've got to be on the straight and narrow to be at University Christian," Lee Southern said. Taylor
Rathbone said she shared classes with Southern. When the school was
grieving about Coney's disappearance and later her death, she said
Southern attempted to comfort her and her friends. "He acted
like he had no idea what happened and sat there and tried to make us
feel better," she said. "It's sick knowing that he knew more the entire
time." Southern's uncle said a detective visited the family's
home Thursday evening to ask about the killing, but Southern said he
didn't know anything. Friday evening, the uncle said, Southern told him he had seen the shooting. Lee
Southern said he took his nephew to the Sheriff's Office to talk to
detectives. Hours later he got a phone call saying his nephew would be
in court Saturday morning, charged with murder. "He was a normal
kid. He had plans," Lee Southern said. "This came out of nowhere. Five
minutes of stupidity can cost you a lifetime."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- While in the Jacksonville Juvenile Justice
Detention Facility one of the teens arrested for the murder of Makia
Coney was assaulted according to news reports.
16-year-old Connor Pridgen was reportedly assaulted by eight other juvenile inmates Saturday.
There is no word if Pridgen was taken to the hospital.
The other teen arrested for Coney's murder, 17-year-old Charles Southern, is also at the facility.
The two will be charged as adults and now will reportedly be moved to the adult detention facility downtown.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Members of two separate churches spent the morning remembering Makia Coney and praying for her family.
At University Baptist Church, which is on the same property as
University Christian, many showed up wearing purple, Coney's favorite
color.
"People are still trying to find ways to honor Makia's memory, she
meant so much to us," said University Baptist Pastor Frank Ciresi.
Ciresi said the church service isn't a memorial, but a time to lift up all those impacted by Coney's sudden death.
"We're going to be praying for the family of Makia. We're going to
be praying for the families of the perpetrators as well and just really
going before the throne of grace asking God to minister to us at this
time when we have so many questions," said Ciresi.
At Life Through the Word Ministry, where Coney went to church with
her family, everyone had on a purple shirt with the teens picture.
"She was my baby," said Georgia Robinson.
Robinson was Makia's youth director and coached her on the church's dance team.
"She danced like an angel," said Robinson.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A theft report filed by a Jacksonville
homeowner in the Dupont neighborhood about two missing .44 caliber
revolvers may be connected to the murder of Makia Coney.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has only said its investigation
into how Connor Pridgen and Charles Southern got their hands on the
guns to kill their classmate from University Christian School is
ongoing.
JSO Lt. Larry Schmitt said Saturday "both suspects" shot Makia and
left her for dead. But investigators have never said what kind of gun
killed Makia, or whether the two teenagers used the same weapon or
separate weapons.
In a police report filed shortly after the JSO news conference on
Saturday, James Cumbie told detectives he kept the weapons locked in a
metal toolbox in a closet in his master bedroom. Cumbie said he also
locked ammunition in a separate toolbox.
Cumbie told investigators he hadn't seen the weapons in about a
year, but after hearing the names of the two teenagers charged in
Makia's murder he went to check the toolboxes and discovered the
weapons missing.
Cumbie said it appeared someone had broken off the locks on both
toolboxes, according to the police report, and that only his wife and
two sons knew where he kept the guns.
One of his sons is a senior at University Christian School, and
Cumbie remembered seeing his son working out with two teens named
"Charles" and "Connor" in their garage, according to the report.
Cumbie said none of the kids who came to lift weights was allowed
upstairs or in his bedroom.
Cumbie's son is listed on the football roster for University
Christian as an offensive lineman/linebacker. Pridgen is also on the
football roster.
First Coast News could not reach Cumbie for comment.
First Coast News also has calls into the Jacksonville Sheriff's
Office to see if it would say whether detectives are looking into the
theft as part of the Makia murder investigation.
Pridgen and Southern remain held in jail without bond. The two will
appear in felony court Tuesday morning to face murder charges as adults.
Makia will be buried Thursday morning at the Southside Church of God
on Emerson Street. The service begins at 11 a.m. A fund has been set
up at Vystar Credit Union in Makia's name.

The two teen suspects in the shooting death of 17-year-old
University Christian School student Makia Ann Coney likely stole the
guns used in the attack from a friend’s home, authorities said Monday.Assistant
State Attorney Mark Caliel said he believes Charles Roy Southern, 17,
and Connor Julian Pridgen, 16, took two .44-caliber revolvers and
ammunition from the home of James C. Cumbie. Cumbie’s 18-year-old son,
Daniel, was friends with the teens. All three also went to University
Christian.The guns were seized after the suspects voluntarily
turned themselves in to police Friday night and said they both shot
Coney in the head. Her body was found on Powers Avenue near Baker
Skinner Park shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday.One of the guns was
found in Pridgen’s home, Caliel said. The other was found on the side
of the road off Florida 210 in St. Johns County. Caliel said Southern
led officers to where he dumped it.Caliel said James Cumbie and
his attorney will meet with investigators today to match up the serial
numbers he has for his firearms to the guns seized by police.Cumbie
called police Saturday morning to report the theft. He said his son had
invited two friends, “Charles” and “Connor,” over to work out recently
— right about the same time the guns could have gone missing, according
to an Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office incident report.He said the
revolvers were locked in a metal box in the master bedroom and that
another locked box contained ammunition. Locks on both boxes were
broken, according to the report. There were no other signs of forced
entry to the home.Cumbie told officers any friends of his son
who came over were not allowed upstairs or in his bedroom. He said no
one would have known of the guns unless they were told about them.The last time Cumbie saw the revolvers was about a year ago, according to the report.Caliel
said investigators believe Southern and Pridgen “secreted the weapons
and ammunition into a backpack” while they were left unattended in the
home.Police said the suspects did not reveal a clear motive for the shooting.In
a statement released Sunday morning, State Attorney Angela Corey said
“appropriate charges” against Southern and Pridgen would be filed in
adult felony court today .Both remain in a state Department of
Juvenile Justice detention facility in Jacksonville, even after Pridgen
was assaulted by eight youths Saturday. Chief Tara Wildes wasn’t sure
if Pridgen had to be hospitalized following the attack, but she said
all of the teens involved were sent back to the juvenile facility after
processing.Coney’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at
Southside Church of God in Christ on 2179 Emerson St. The ceremony will be open to the
public.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The family of Makia Coney has issued a statement about the kidnapping and return of Melvin Duclos.
Makia Coney, 17, disappeared last month after attending school at
University Christian. She was found hours later in a park off Powers
Avenue. Two of her classmates have been charged with shooting her once
each in the head. No motive has been given.
"We are so thankful that Little Melvin was safely returned to his
home. We, too, were praying along with Jacksonville for his family,"
the statement said.

One of two Jacksonville teens charged in February's slaying of a
University Christian student has been considering a guilty plea and is
scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning, according to court
records and his uncle.
Details about a possible guilty plea are included in a motion filed
last week by Charles Roy Southern's attorney for the original judge to
disqualify himself. Attorney Rhonda Peoples-Waters wrote that Circuit
Judge David Gooding's role would be crucial in a trial or sentencing
hearing. She cited previous problems she had in a case with Gooding and
concerns about his tough sentencing habit as reason for him to be
disqualified.
Gooding recused himself, noting he was required to accept the
allegations as true even if he believes they are not. A pre-trial
hearing for Southern and co-defendant Connor Julian Pridgen is scheduled
Thursday before Circuit Judge Libby Senterfitt.
Southern, 17, and Pridgen, 16, have pleaded not guilty in the Feb.
10 slaying of Makia Coney, 17. Coney was reported missing from the
private school and her body was found a few hours later in woods three
miles away.
Coney was shot twice, but the motive has not been revealed.
Investigators are awaiting tests on two stolen handguns and bullets they
believe were used in the slaying.
The teens, who were Coney's schoolmates, will not face the death
penalty since it is not allowed for juveniles under state law. They are
both being tried as adults.
In her motion, Peoples-Waters said that she met with prosecutor Mark
Caliel on March 15 and that "discussions were held pertaining to a
possible plea of guilty as presently charged."
Caliel told her that prosecutors would not recommend the terms of a
prison sentence and Peoples-Waters noted the crucial role the judge
would play.
Peoples-Waters wrote that the defense has a "well-founded fear" that
it will not receive a fair trial or hearing because of "prejudice or
bias" by Gooding.
She cited a run-in with Gooding in a 2008 felony case in which she
said Gooding repeatedly acted inappropriately. She said he stopped
proceedings to blame her for not being ready, interrupted her during
closing arguments and was "extremely sarcastic" with her during the
sentencing hearing.
She also noted her concerns that Gooding "consistently" follows or
exceeds sentencing recommendations made by prosecutors.
Peoples-Waters could not be reached to comment. Lee Southern,
Southern's uncle, said a change of plea had been considered while
Gooding was still the judge and he's not sure what will happen Thursday.
"I'm leaving it up to her [Peoples-Waters]" he said.
Gooding could not be reached to comment. Caliel and Public Defender
Matt Shirk, whose office represents the other teen, Pridgen, declined to
comment.

Two Teens Confess To Murder
Jeff HessBy
Two Jacksonville teens confess to killing their University Christian @ July 29, 2010 2:00 PM Permalink | School classmate.
17-year old Charles Southern and 16-year old Connor Pridgen pleaded
guilty to second-degree murder on Thursday. Each faces a minimum
mandatory sentence of 25 years and could face 40 years to life in
prison.
The two shot and killed their University Christian School classmate Makia Coney.
Prosecutors
made the plea deals because the teens couldn't receive the death
penalty even if they were convicted of first degree murder, so there is
not much difference between the two sentences.
The two teens shot
Coney in the head and left her body in a ditch off Powers Avenue.
Prosecutors said Southern shot Coney in the head first, then Pridgen.
Apparently the boys stole the guns to perform robberies and wanted to know what it was like to kill someone.
Both teens will be sentenced Oct. 1.

2 teens get life for killing classmate
Victim shot in the head at close range

Updated: Saturday, 02 Oct 2010, 10:20 AM EDT
Published : Saturday, 02 Oct 2010, 9:27 AM EDT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Two teen boys have been sentenced to life in prison for killing a female classmate in Jacksonville earlier this year.

A Duval County judge sentenced 17-year-old Charles Southern and 16-year-old Conner Pridgen Friday afternoon. The two pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder.

Southern, Pridgen and 17-year-old Makia Ann Coney had all been students at University Christian School. They left together after school one day in February. The three picked up some cigars and drove to a nearby wooded area, where Pridgen and Southern each shot her once in the head at close range with a .44 magnum revolver and left her for dead.

Both told authorities they killed Coney because they wanted to see what it would feel like to kill someone.
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/state_news/100210-2-teens-get-life-for-killing-classmate

University Christian says Makia Coney's negligence caused her murder

PhotosArticles about the case
Posted: April 27, 2011 - 6:01pm

Coney

• Photos from the courtroom
  
• Photos from Makia Coney's funeral
  
• Makia Coney's memorial wall
  

By Paul Pinkham

University Christian student Makia Coney's carelessness caused
or contributed to her thrill-kill murder by two classmates, the
Jacksonville private school is arguing in response to a lawsuit by
Coney's family.
Lawyers for University Baptist Church and University Christian School
said in court documents Coney, 17, was negligent by leaving campus Feb.
10 last year with her two teenaged killers — Connor Pridgen and
Charles Southern.
They drove her to a remote location and took turns shooting her in
the head, later telling police they wanted to know what it felt like.
Both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to
maximum life prison terms.
Coney's mother sued the school last month saying it should have done more to protect her daughter.
But the school's Tampa lawyers answered that the girl assumed the risk of leaving campus and chose to expose herself to harm.
"Coney conducted herself in a negligent and careless manner, and as a
direct and proximate result ... caused or contributed to her death,"
they wrote in their answer to the lawsuit. "Coney knew or ... should
have known of the risks, potential hazards and dangers associated with
leaving the school premises with Southern and Pridgen in violation of
school policy."

The family's attorney, Chris Chestnut, said he wasn't surprised by University's response.
"This callousness and disregard for her has been consistent from day
one, and that's why we're in litigation," he said. "The family didn't
want to be here."

He said the goal of the lawsuit always has been improving security at
the school, located near Interstate 95 at University Boulevard East.
"There are still security threats at the school, and if you don't admit, you don't correct," he said.
In addition to her private school tuition, Coney's family paid for
her to attend an after-school program at University. But she left campus
undetected about 3:15 p.m. with Pridgen and Southern the day of her murder.

This is a very sad story; so many young lives destroyed, but I can't see how anyone can seriously blame the school. What I kept wondering while re-reading the events is "Why would the girl leave the premises when her parents were coming to pick her up?" I can't fathom doing something like that (not when my folks would be coming for me any minute).
I'd like to see the poor uncle's line on billboards across the country:

"He was a normal kid. He had plans," Lee Southern said. "This came out of nowhere.
FIVE MINUTES OF STUPIDITY CAN COST YOU A LIFETIME."