A Florida teen who participated in a robbery with two other suspects will testify against them in their upcoming murder trials.
Christopher Atkins, 14, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder, armed robbery and evidence tampering in the 2023 killing of 16-year-old Layla Silvernail. He faces 40 years to life in prison and could be eligible for parole after 25 years, according to Click Orlando.
Prosecutors also accused Atkins and two others — Robert Robinson, then 17, and Tahj Brewton, then 16 — in the killings of Michael Hodo Jr., 17, and Camille Quarles, 16.
Only Atkins faces charges in Silvernail’s death.
Robinson and Brewton are charged in all three killings and are scheduled to stand trial in July. As part of his plea deal, Atkins must testify against them, according to Fifth Circuit State Attorney’s Office officials.
Prosecutors charged Robinson with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery and one count of evidence tampering.
Brewton faces three counts of first-degree murder, along with charges of armed robbery, armed carjacking, grand theft of a vehicle, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evidence tampering and tampering with an electronic monitoring device.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police found Silvernail on March 30, 2023, near a dumpster with a gunshot wound to the head. She later died at a hospital.
The next day, deputies discovered Michael Hodo Jr. shot in the back of the head along the side of a road. On April 1, investigators found Camille Quarles dead in the trunk of Silvernail’s car.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods previously said interviews and phone records showed Silvernail went willingly the night she was killed. He said the suspects carried out burglaries and robberies they referred to as a “lick.” The three defendants and the three victims were involved in criminal activity on March 30, 2023, before the suspects turned on the victims and killed them.
“At some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them,’’ he said.
While investigators found no clear sign of a rivalry leading to the murders, Woods said each suspect had ties to a gang.
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Law&Crime reports that Silvernail was known as a “team player and an amazing athlete,” by the Southeastern Fastpitch.
A GoFundMe page set up after death described her as a “great pitcher” who “could play any position her team needed.”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Layla Silvernail/GoFundMe]
