14-year-old Cobb girl stabbed to death. Prosecutors say teen killed her for gang initiation

MARIETTA, Ga. — An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to stabbing a 14-year-old girl to death to obtain membership in a gang.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The deadly stabbing happened on April 8, 2020.

Officers were called to the Roswell Road area in the city of Marietta concerning a missing girl. Marietta Police said the investigation revealed that the girl, identified as Janina Valenzuela was with her boyfriend.

The two were reportedly going to the store in the area when they were confronted by the suspect, identified as Brayan (Segura) Rivas, at the time, 15, who tried to start a fight with the boy and threatened them both with a knife.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Judge rules that rap lyrics can be used as evidence in YSL RICO trial
• Woman who shot Ga. mother multiple times, kidnapped 6-week-old twin sons, sentenced
• Men smuggled $3 million worth of cocaine hidden in butter tubs to metro Atlanta area

Officials said the two teens ran away from Rivas, with Valenzuela running away and the boy taking Riva’s bike to escape.

The teen told officials that he and Valenzuela got separated during the attack.

According to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office, Rivas chased the teens but lost sight of the boy. Rivas then chased Valenzuela into the woods behind the apartments at 1805 Roswell Road and stabbed her to death.

Later that Thursday morning, Valenzuela’s body was found in a nearby creek on Roswell Road.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

During an interview, Rivas initially denied killing Valenzuela. But in a letter mailed from jail, he confessed to killing Valenzuela and said he meant to also kill the boy.

The attorney’s office states that the reason behind Rivas’s motive was to obtain membership in the MS-13 criminal street gang by committing the crime. Authorities also found the knife that was used at Rivas’s home. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed Valenzuela’s DNA on the knife.

On Tuesday, Rivas, now 18, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 20 years after pleading guilty to malice murder and violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act.

“This was one of the most heinous and senseless murders that I have ever worked. The loss of any loved one is tragic, but the loss of a child to such a senseless violent act is immeasurable, I only hope that the family has some peace knowing that the man responsible will spend the rest of his days behind bars,” said Assistant District Attorney Jay Winkler.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Grandfather charged with dealing Fentanyl, meth, authorities say

©2023 Cox Media Group