UK student charged in deadly robbery described plot, records say

Newly released court records revealed how three University of Kentucky freshmen plotted a robbery that ended with the death of a 28-year-old man.

The freshmen — Jaydon Bryce Whalen, 19, of Hebron, Nicholas Vincent Coriaci, 18, of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Alex P. Ferrell, 19, of Ravenna, Ohio — were arrested on first-degree robbery charges earlier this week.

One of the three students told police how the four lured their would-be robbery victim into a trap and what happened when the victim flipped the script on his assailants, according to documents filed in Ferrell’s case.

The plan was to set up a drug deal to get their victim to 562 Woodland Avenue on April 9, the student told police. The records did not disclose the name of the student.

He and Ferrell waited for the victim to arrive while the other two hid in nearby bushes, wearing masks and carrying handguns, according to court files.

During the drug deal, the two masked men emerged from the bushes to rob the victim. The victim pulled out a handgun and shot both of the masked men, the student told police.

James N. Gordon, 28, and Coriaci were shot, police previously confirmed. Gordon died just before 3 a.m. Saturday. Coriaci appeared in court Tuesday with his arm in a sling.

The student said he, Ferrell and the masked men planned and participated in the robbery, according to police reports, which stated that investigators found text messages, phone records and voice-mail messages that supported the student’s statements.

Whalen and Coriaci pleaded not guilty at arraignment hearings earlier in the week. Bond for the pair was unchanged at $10,000 full cash.

Bond for Ferrell was reduced by 75 percent, from $10,000 to $2,500, at his arraignment Wednesday. Fayette District Judge Julie Muth Goodman ordered home incarceration for Ferrell. He’s not allowed contact with his co-defendants.

Ferrell’s parents told Goodman they would post bail and take him back to Ohio. Coriaci posted bond Wednesday, jail records show.

Ferrell, Coriaci and Whalen are scheduled to appear in court again on April 22.

The intended victim’s identity has not been released. All of the people involved, including the intended victim, could face new charges, police said Tuesday.

Previous story about the arrests.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM with the headline "UK student charged in deadly robbery described plot, records say."