REBECCA LAYSON - 17 yo (2010) - Citrus Heights CA

Sacramento, CA — Just weeks after California Assembly Resolution 100
(Jones) was introduced to declare February, 2010 National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 17-year-old Rebecca Layson was
brutally murdered, allegedly by her teenage boyfriend and another teen
male. Last Friday Layson´s body was found in a Citrus Heights park,
showing evidence of blunt trauma. The alleged attackers, her
17-year-old boyfriend and 18-year-old Anton Adolf, are now also accused
of raping her.

This tragedy highlights the epidemic of violence in teen couples, said
Tara Shabazz, Executive Director of the California Partnership to End
Domestic Violence (CPEDV). According to the National Network to End
Domestic Violence, women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience
intimate partner violence at a rate nearly three times higher than the
national average.

"Rebecca Layson´s murder reminds us that we as a community must do more
to educate and protect our young people," Shabazz said. "Her death,
coming in the midst of a month dedicated to raising awareness about
teen violence, should be our wake-up call. We cannot continue to ignore
this serious threat to the safety of young people."

Poster's Note: This is an original story about this case that took place last week.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Family and friends of Rebecca Layson said it was
still hard to believe the vivacious 17-year-old they knew was gone
forever.
"She was a big sister to everybody," said Ashley Jenkins, a friend
of Rebecca's since the girls were 5 years old. "She was there for
everyone. She was the most caring person I ever met."
The San Juan High School student was found murdered early Friday
morning in Van Maren Park in Citrus Heights with blunt trauma injuries,
according to Citrus Heights police. Two teens, a 17-year-old identified
as Layson's boyfriend and 18-year-old Anton Adolf Johnson, were
arrested and face murder, rape and conspiracy charges in the girl's
death.
In a Fair Oaks parking lot Sunday, a group of about 40 of Rebecca
Layson's family and friends held a car wash to raise money to help with
the cost of the teen's burial.
"To know this many people loved my daughter and loved us.
Unfortunately, you don't always know until a situation like this
happens," Rebecca's father Richard Layson said.
"We're blessed to have our friends and family come out," Rebecca's stepmother Natalia Ortega said. "It's a great help."
Ortega said another car wash was scheduled to be held at San Juan
High School at 7551 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights Monday. The school
will be closed Monday as part of a previously scheduled Presidents'
Week.

CBS13/CW31: Sacramento’s Source For Breaking News, Weather and Traffic — Sat Feb 20 12:00:00 UTC 2010 The Sacramento District Attorney’s office has decided to try Tyler Espinoza, 17, as an adult after being charged in last week’s murder of the Citrus Heights teen Rebecca Layson. about: Citrus Heights Citrus Heights California Citrus Heights Murder The Sacramento District Attorney District attorney Law Law Crime Law Enforcement Murder Prosecuting Attorneys Rebecca Layson Tyler Espinoza

http://sacramento10.cityspur.com/tag/tyler-espinoza/

Tyler Espinoza, 18, and Anton "Tony" Adolf Johnson, 19, are charged with first-degree murder and acting in concert in Layson's slaying last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

http://www.wopular.com/ask-sacto-9-11-2-teens-face-murder-charges-citrus-heights-park-slaying

Teen, 17, to be tried as adult in Citrus Heights slaying

The Sacramento District Attorney's office has decided to try as an adult Tyler Espinoza, 17, who has been charged in last week's murder of Citrus Heights teen Rebecca Layson Espinoza, who family said was Layson's boyfriend, and Anton "Tony" Adolf Johnson, 18, were arraigned Thursday, each on a charge of murder and a special allegation of acting in concert with another person Layson's body was found in Van Maren Park last Friday morning Layson's family called police to report her missing

http://pulpnews.com/c/i.php?p=np&id=1267615586

Charges Dropped Against Teen Murder Suspect

Tyler Espinoza, 19, To Be Released From Jail

POSTED: 4:13 pm PST November 9, 2011

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- All charges have been dismissed against one of the two men accused of murdering a teenaged Citrus Heights girl, according to a court spokeswoman.
Tyler Espinoza had been charged with the killing of Rebecca Layson, whose badly beaten body was found in Citrus Heights Van Muren Park in February 2010.
A court spokeswoman told KCRA 3 that Espinoza appeared in Sacramento Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon and that a judge ordered a charges against him dismissed "for lack of evidence."
Another man, Anton Johnson, is still charged with murder, mayhem, torture with intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and a special allegation of acting in concert.
"I think that there's always going to be frustration that justice may not have been served entirely against Tyler," said Kathie Scolet, the victim's grandmother, during an interview Wednesday afternoon with KCRA 3.
According to a statement released late Wednesday by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, Espinoza had been dating the victim and they had gone to the park with several friends on the evening of Feb. 11, 2010.
The statement said several of the friends had been drinking and that Espinoza has several times changed his story about what happened. It said that in his most recent interview with investigators, Espinoza told them that he was very drunk that evening, had been punched by Johnson and passed out.
"Upon the further investigation and review of this case, the District Attorney's Office has concluded there is clearly insufficient evidence to proceed against Tyler Espinoza. No physical evidence links him to the victim despite the bloody crime scene," read the district attorney's statement.
Friends of Layson's said they were shocked with the court's decision to drop the charge against Espinoza.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said that Espinoza was expected to be released from custody sometime Wednesday evening.

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/29730203/detail.html#ixzz1dJfX2Umc

Girl's injuries described in 2010 Citrus Heights park killing

Posted by Andy Furillo
3:07 PM, October 21, 2011

A preliminary hearing got under way today in the February 2010 killing of Rebecca Renee Layson in Citrus Heights' Van Maren Park.

Prosecutors have charged Anton Adolph Johnson Jr., now 20, and Tyler Shawn Espinoza, 19, with murder and sexual assault in the death of the 17-year-old girl.

Layson's family identified Espinoza in the days after the killing as the girl's boyfriend.

Citrus Heights police found Layson's body in the park the morning of Feb. 8, 2010, after the girl's parents reported her missing.

In his testimony, Sgt. David Moranz described the severe injuries the girl endured. He said Layson suffered blunt force injuries to the head and face, a 10-inch laceration to her head and scalp and other cuts to her face, forehead, scalp and right ear. She also sustained bruises to her forehead, multiple jaw fractures and asphyxia, Moranz testified.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge James L. Long scheduled the hearing to be completed on Nov. 15.

Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/10/girls-injuries-described-in-2010-citrus-heights-park-killing.html#storylink=cpy