Bail reduced for suspect in Kent 13-year-old's death
Bail reduced for suspect in Kent 13-year-old's death
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KENT, Wash. - It's been over five months since 13-year-old Matthiew Stavkovy was shot and killed at a park in Kent, allegedly in a planned robbery gone wrong.
Matthiew was at Turnkey Park to meet up with some friends who were selling a camera. According to court documents, four suspects stole the camera at gunpoint, and then shot Matthiew as he tried to flee with his sister.
A judge has since reduced bail for one of the defendants after an appeal by his family to have him home for Christmas.
Matthiew's family doesn't feel any of the four suspects should have the opportunity to be with their families for the holidays, saying it wouldn't be fair after they took that chance away from Matthiew.
"This is going to be the first Christmas that the Stavkovy family will be without Matthiew," said Vlad Melnik, a family friend.
Melnik says if Matthiew was still alive, he'd probably be dreaming about what he might be getting for Christmas. Instead, Matthiew's spot will be empty at the table.
"He loved the ATVs and dirt bikes," Melnik said. "When family gathers, he's just not going to be there."
Man pleads not guilty in deadly shooting of Kent 13-year-old
The 18-year-old suspected in the killing of a 13-year-old boy at Turnkey Park in Kent pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and robbery on Monday.
The four suspects arrested for the 13-year-old's death are accused of organizing the meeting on OfferUp, creating a plan for the robbery, and shooting Matthiew as he attempted to escape on his ATV.
Diaviante Dunmore, the oldest of the suspects, had his bail set at $2 million back in August. His brother, Marsais, is accused of pulling the trigger.
On December 17, Diaviante's defense attorneys proposed a release plan. Prosecutors objected, stating that his co-defendant was just denied a similar request by a different judge.
The King County Prosecutors’ objection to release stated:
"Defendant Diaviante Dunmore is charged with Murder in the First Degree and Robbery in the First Degree, both with firearm enhancements. He is currently held on $2,000,000 bail. The Defense has requested Dunmore be released on Electronic Home Detention. The State objects to any reduction in bail and asks this Court maintain the $2,000,000 currently set for each of the four co-defendants in this case. Of note, co-defendant Semarias Woods, whom Diaviante Dunmore named as the getaway driver when confessing to law enforcement, recently moved for release to EHD before the Honorable Judge Mindy Young. Judge Young denied the defendant’s motion for release on 11/20/24, and maintained bail at $2,000,000."
However, Judge Brian McDonald still reduced Dunmore's bail to $1 million.
Matthiew's dad, Oleg, said he believes Dunmore is dangerous. He signed a victim's impact statement, which read:
"While we understand Mr. Dunmore would prefer to be with his family during the upcoming holidays, we think that scenario is only appropriate if Matthiew can also be physically with his family during the same time. Unfortunately, Dunmore’s own injustice to Matthiew made that forever impossible in this earthly world."
Court documents indicate the conditions of release would include electronic home monitoring if Dunmore were to make bail.
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