Woman accused in hacking death appointed new counsel

Desiray Strickland, 18, pleads not guilty in death of Jose Santos Amaya Guardado

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – An 18-year-old girl accused in the death of a classmate at the Homestead Jobs Corps center appeared in court Friday where she was appointed new counsel.

Desiray Strickland has pleaded not guilty in the death of 17-year-old Jose Santos Amaya Guardado. She is expected to appear again in court Oct. 9.

Strickland is charged with first-degree murder, along with Kareem Arbelo, 20, Jonathan Lucas, 18, and Christian colon, 19. Police made a final arrest in the case Thursday, also charging Joseph Michael Cabrera with first-degree murder. Cabrera was taken into custody in St. Louis and is awaiting extradition to Miami.

The group is accused of plotting to kill Guardado for weeks, before the plan was executed on June 28.

Police said the teen was hacked to death with a machete and was partially buried in a wooded area behind the vocational school.

The Department of Labor has since suspended all classes at the Homestead Job Corps until they complete a review of the safety and security on the campus.

"This pause in operations will provide additional time for Job Corps to complete its review of safety and security at the Homestead center and to consider actions to further strengthen oversight and accountability of Job Corps contractors," said Stephen Barr, senior managing director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Public Affairs.

All suspects are being held without bond while they await trial.

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