Luis Rivera, the second suspect in the murder of a Florida State University law professor, is now in custody at Leon County Jail.
Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia are each facing a first-degree murder charge for killing Daniel Markel in July 2014. Rivera was being held at Coleman Florida Correctional Complex in central Florida on unrelated charges, but was moved to Leon County for the Markel trial. Georgia Cappleman, the Tallahassee Chief Assistant State Attorney, says for the time being the two suspects are part of a joint case.
“They were charged in a single indictment, Garcia and Rivera, so we’ll be moving forward on their cases as joined together for now. Now, there are ways they could potentially become separated moving forward, but that would be a result of motions or filings that the defendants might make," says Cappleman.
Rivera had his first court appearance on Wednesday morning and is expected to be appointed a public defender. Garcia has already entered a not guilty plea. A grand jury will reconvene in August to hear evidence against the two suspects.
