A probationer and his girlfriend accused of killing a 28-year-old homeless man who was “lured” to a location at the heart of downtown Riverside are slated to make a joint court appearance later this month.
Timothy Ian Carroll Jr., 32, and Jamie Michelle Estevez, 48, both of Riverside, were arrested last month following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of Nile Blackston Jefferson.
Both defendants are charged with first-degree murder, while Carroll alone is charged with probation violations and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
They pleaded not guilty during an arraignment on Feb. 20, at which time Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel scheduled a felony settlement conference for the duo on March 24 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Each defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail — Carroll at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, and Estevez at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to police spokesman Detective Steve Espinosa, just after 5 a.m. on Feb. 6, Jefferson came into contact with one of the defendants in the area of 14th and Main streets, a couple of blocks from the campus of Riverside City College.
“Detectives determined Mr. Jefferson was lured to a nearby business, where he was shot by Carroll,” Espinosa said. “Carroll was aided in the shooting by … Estevez.”
The defendants immediately fled, Espinosa said. A possible motive was not disclosed.
The shooting was reported by witnesses, and paramedics arrived minutes later, pronouncing the victim dead at the scene.
Robbery-Homicide Unit detectives initiated a probe that soon identified the two alleged conspirators. Estevez was taken into custody without incident in the area of 12th and Mulberry streets on Feb. 16, and Carroll was arrested uneventfully the following day in the same area where the shooting occurred.
Court documents show he has a prior misdemeanor conviction for trespassing. Background information on Estevez was unavailable.