Bond raised for teen in Colonial Heights murder case - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

A Colonial Heights judge increased the bond for a teen accused of killing 22 year old Rusty Mack last month. She's one of four suspects behind bars. NBC 12 is not revealing the teen's identity until she goes on trial as an adult.

The teenage murder suspect's defense attorney asked that the bond appeal hearing be continued but the judge denied that request and immediately made a decision.

"It didn't go in our favor today but it will," said Kimberly Beeler, a friend of the Mack family.

Walking out of the courtroom, friends of the late Rusty Mack spoke out about what they wanted to see.

"No bond," Beeler said.

Instead, a circuit court judge decided to raise the teen's bond to $250,000 up from the $25,000 bond a juvenile judge set last week. Defense attorney Mike Lee left court with few words unlike prosecutors.

"It's a very serious case," said Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Elizabeth Fields.

She wanted the teen to stay behind bars but says she respects the judge's decision.

"When they address bond, they will set a really high bond that's secured to make sure somebody's going to appear to court or to deter them from any further activity that will be harmful to them or society…My argument today in court was we believe she is a  danger to society," Fields said.

She wouldn't go into the details of the case, not even answering why would four people beat a 22 year old man to death.

"It definitely will all come out at trial," she said.

Those are answers that can't come soon enough for those still grieving.

"{Rusty's mother is} not good as to be expected….My daughter can hardly get out of the bed every day," Beeler added.

20 year old suspect Jonathan Guy was also in court Wednesday to appeal his no bond decision, but the case was continued until next week. The teen along with Guy and Mack's estranged wife face mob by murder charges. Francis Blaha is the only suspect not also facing first degree murder

Preliminary hearings will take place in April and May.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.