Closing arguments underway
Enrique Rios and Elijah Moore disappeared within weeks of each other
Closing arguments were heard in the trial for Chandale Shannon Jr. and Jesus Campos, co-defendants in the case concerning the disappearances and murders of two Yolo County teenagers.
On Wednesday in Yolo Superior Court, the jury heard first from the prosecution’s attorney David Wilson as he outlined the case and all the evidence heard against Shannon and Campos since the beginning of the trial several weeks prior.
Enrique Rios and Elijah Moore disappeared within weeks of each other in 2016 after Moore allegedly robbed David Froste, Shannon and Campos of three ounces of marijuana. Two years later in 2018, David, his brother Jonathan Froste, Shannon and Campos were arrested and charged for murdering Rios and Moore as revenge for the drug robbery. Rios was targeted due to his friendship with Moore.
According to court testimony, Rios and Moore are believed to have been murdered in Knights Landing, but their bodies have never been found.
David, the alleged ringleader of the murders, has since been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jonathan took a plea deal and will likely serve 15 years to life in prison. Shannon and Campos are both facing multiple charges including murder and kidnapping for their involvement.
Over the course of the trial, evidence was presented that showed both defendants willingness to be involved in the schemes and the lengths they went to to conceal their crimes including destroying evidence and lying to law enforcement, Wilson explained.
“They’ve been trying to avoid responsibility of this for six
years,” Wilson emphasized.
After the robbery, which Shannon denied happening for months when questioned by law enforcement, David wanted revenge. Unable to locate Moore, the group began reaching out to friends of Moore.
“Chandale put Enrique Rios’ name out there because his loyalty was more important to Froste,” Wilson told the jury. “Enrique paid with his life because he trusted his friend.”
Rios was shot and killed after refusing to give up Moore’s location, according to Wilson.
Testimony from Jonathan revealed that neither Campos or Shannon hesitated when asked to be a part of the kidnapping and carry out deeds including threatening Moore with a gun and bludgeoning him with a branch. Wilson also explained how Campos went with David to pick up tools, gasoline and bleach to kill and bury Moore.
“There is no hesitation, no question that they are part of this conspiracy,” Wilson said. “This is their squad, this is their group.”
The prosecution argued that there was no question to what David set out to do, arguing that if Shannon were really friends with the victims he would have told law enforcement what crimes had occurred right away. Instead, testimony showed that Shannon repeatedly lied and changed his story over the course of two years in an attempt to conceal the truth, Wilson said.
“The crimes against these victims don’t happen without these two,” Wilson said. “They both aided, abetted and assisted in the murder and kidnapping. They knew what David was going to do. I ask that you find both defendants guilty as charged.”
When the defense took the floor, both David Nelson, Campos’ lawyer, and Robert Spangler, Shannon’s lawyer, relied heavily on directing blame toward David Froste, calling him a “monster” and a “manipulator.” Nelson argued that Campos did not kill anybody, reminding the jury that mere presence at a crime is not enough to convict.
“Did he put himself there voluntarily and willingingly or was he a 16-year-old kid manipulated by an older, more experienced psychopath?” Nelson stated about Froste’s relationship with Campos.
Spangler also argued that there was no evidence that suggested Shannon knew David planned to murder both victims and called into question Jonathan’s testimony, stating there was proof that he had lied about past, insignificant events.
“You don’t know what Chandale did because you can’t trust Jonathan’s testimony,” Spangler explained. “He’s a terrible historian.”
The prosecution is set to take the floor one more time for final statements on Thursday at 9 a.m. in Department 14 of Yolo Superior Court before jury deliberations begin.