EVERETT — She has a clean record with no felony or misdemeanor convictions as either a juvenile or adult.
Now she faces the possibility of life behind bars.
Prosecutors late last week charged Lendsay Meza, 21, with aggravated first-degree murder, alleging that she took part in a July 2 torture killing.
The Mukilteo woman is one of three defendants facing aggravated murder charges in the death of Ezekiel Kelly of Everett.
Anthony Hernandez-Cano, 18, in August pleaded guilty for his role in Kelly’s death as well as the killing of Mohamed Adan of Seattle.
The third suspect, Hassani Hassani, also is charged in both killings.
Passersby found Adan’s body July 1 near Blue Stilly Park outside of Arlington. He’d been stripped, bashed in the head, burned on his face and shot many times in the torso and foot. He was 21.
Kelly’s body was discovered July 3 at an abandoned building on Beverly Park Road in Mukilteo. He had tape looped around his neck. He’d suffered 27 stab wounds and three shots to the head. He was 22.
Meza, according to charging papers, picked up Kelly at a gas station with Hernandez-Cano and Hassani inside the car. She also allegedly admitted striking Kelly at least twice with a baseball bat. She later drove the car to an abandoned home where Kelly was shot in the head, according to the charges filed by Snohomish County chief deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson.
She’s also accused of trying to help clean blood stains from the car.
Matheson has asked that no bail be allowed for Meza.
“Defendant has no incentive to remain within the jurisdiction, making her a likely flight risk,” Matheson wrote in the charging papers. “Further, the gruesome and sadistic nature of Kelly’s murder with which the defendant took part make her a clear danger to the community.”
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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