Murder charges against Kentucky brothers dismissed after grand jury hearing
Two brothers who were accused of fatally shooting a woman in Lexington last September have been released from jail after their charges were dropped Monday, according to court records.
Brian Marquez Chavez, 22, and Kevin Marquez Chavez, 18, were charged with murder, attempted murder, 20 counts of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief. Court records indicate a Fayette County grand jury declined to indict the men, dismissing the charges and ending the cases.
The men were suspects in the murder of Esmerelda Lizete Rodriguez Perez, 28, of Lexington. Police found Perez shot around 1 a.m. Sept. 8 Betsy Lane. She later died at the hospital. A man was also wounded in the shooting but survived.
At a preliminary hearing for the brothers in January, Brian Marquez Chavez’s attorney, Brad Clark, said the evidence against his client is largely circumstantial and asked the $1 million bond be reduced.
Kevin Marquez Chavez’s attorney, Derrick Harris, asked the same, but the request was denied and the case was sent to the grand jury.
