Background: Layla Silvernail (GoFundMe). Insets, clockwise from top left: Christopher Atkins, Robert Robinson, Tahj Brewton (Marion County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida teenager faces decades in prison after pleading guilty to a murder he committed when he was just 12 years old, court records show.
Christopher Atkins, now 14, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm and evidence tampering in the 2023 death of 16-year-old Layla Silvernail. According to Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV, Atkins faces between 40 years and life in prison but could be eligible for parole after 25 years.
Atkins and his friends, Robert Robinson, then 17, and Tahj Brewton, then 16, were also accused of killing 17-year-old Michael Hodo Jr. and 16-year-old Camille Quarles. While Atkins was only charged in Silvernail’s murder, Robinson and Brewton are charged in all three. They are slated to go on trial in July. Atkins must testify against them as part of his plea deal.
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As Law&Crime previously reported, Robinson is charged with three counts of murder in the first degree, three counts of robbery with a firearm, and one count of tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding.
Brewton stands accused of three counts of murder in the first degree and a count each of robbery with a firearm, robbery-carjacking with a firearm or weapon, grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, tampering with evidence in a criminal proceeding, and tampering with electronic monitoring device.
Authorities previously said that the victims were found either shot to death or dying in locations across Ocklawaha, an unincorporated community in central Florida. Silvernail, who had been shot in the head, was discovered unconscious near a dumpster on March 30, 2023; she died at the hospital. Hodo was found dead the following morning, March 31, on the side of the road — also shot in the back of the head. Quarles was discovered on April 1, 2023, in the trunk of Silvernail’s vehicle.
“Quarles had been shot two times and murdered while in the trunk of the vehicle,” prosecutors wrote in an arrest affidavit.
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Responding to rumors, Marion County Sheriff Billy said at a press conference that Silvernail “was there of her own free will” that fateful night, citing interviews and phone evidence. He also said the suspects were committing burglaries and robberies, which they referred to as a “lick.” The sheriff said there was “nothing specific to say it was any rivalry” that led to the murders, but noted each of the suspects is associated with a gang.
“Basically, simple terms: There is no honor among thieves,” the sheriff said. “And at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them — two of them right there,” the sheriff said, gesturing to Robert Robinson’s and Christopher Atkins’ mug shots on screen. “They fled the scene, but left a lot of evidence in their wake.”
Southeastern Fastpitch recently mourned Silvernail as a “team player and an amazing athlete.”
“She loved the game of softball, was a great pitcher and could play any position her team needed. She uplifted all of her teammates! She has been taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed,” a GoFundMe said.
Alberto Luperon contributed to this report.
