HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The fifth suspect facing charges in connection to the death of Jason Susuico pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Gregory Reese appeared before Superior Court of Guam Magistrate Judge Benjamin Sison Jr. on Wednesday morning to answer to charges related to the death of Susuico, a retired National Guard recruiter.
Reese, who was the fifth of five defendants accused in the case, appeared with his attorney, Anthony Perez. Several attorneys requested to withdraw after they were appointed to represent Reese, which ultimately delayed Reese’s arraignment hearing.
Perez, on behalf of Reese, entered a plea of not guilty and waived Reese’s right to a speedy trial. Sison said Reese’s case was assigned to Judge John Terlaje.
Reese is held at the Department of Corrections on $1 million cash bail.
Suspects
Susuico’s remains were found decomposing in the jungle area near the former Guam Raceway Park in Yigo more than a year ago.
Reese joins his co-defendants, Cynthia Quinata, Jordan Babauta, Brandon Chandler and Jason Manibusan in pleading not guilty to the charges against them.
According to the indictment, Babauta was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated assault, attempted identity theft and attempted theft. Chandler, Manibusan and Reese were charged with murder, complicity to commit murder and aggravated assault. Quinata was charged with complicity to commit murder.
According to court documents, an informant told the Guam Police Department that the alleged slaying of Susuico was over a “burned” drug deal.
Quinata allegedly lured Susuico to her house under the guise of smoking methamphetamine, but it ended up being a plan to “beat down” Susuico in retaliation, charging documents stated.
Officers, upon searching Quinata’s home, saw large traces of blood inside.
A second informant told police Babauta, Chandler and Manibusan were involved and were overheard talking about beating Susuico to death, documents state.
Reese was charged via an indictment, and details of his involvement in the crime have not been disclosed in public court documents.
Gregory Lathaniel Reese
