HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Another man suspected to be involved in the death of Jason Susuico pleaded not guilty to his charges.
On Wednesday afternoon, Brandon Chandler appeared in the Superior Court of Guam to answer to charges stemming from the death of Susuico in January. The charges came from a superseding indictment, which charged Chandler with murder, complicity to commit murder and aggravated assault.
Although Chandler’s assigned attorney William Gavras was present and indicated he would be withdrawing from the case due to a conflict of interest, Magistrate Judge Benjamin Sison Jr. asked if Gavras could proceed with the arraignment hearing before withdrawing.
Gavras agreed and on behalf of Chandler entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and waived his right to a speedy trial.
Following Chandler’s plea, co-defendants Jason Manibusan and Gregory Reese were scheduled to answer to the same charges. However, Manibusan’s attorney David Lujan was not present, and Reese’s attorney Joaquin “Jay” Arriola Jr. filed a motion to withdraw from the case.
Attorney Carol Baulos was appointed to represent Reese, who will make his next appearance in court Jan. 2.
The two other defendants charged in the case, Jordan Babauta and Cynthia Quinata, did not appear. According to Post files, Babauta pleaded not guilty to the charges last week.
Charges
About six months after the Guam Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the death of Susuico, a retired Guam Army National Guard recruiter whose remains were found decomposing in the jungle area near the Guam Raceway Park in Yigo, officers arrested the defendants in July. They were subsequently charged.
Quinata, Babauta, Chandler and Manibusan were charged at different times throughout the year, and each had separate cases. On Dec. 1, when the Office of the Attorney General brought the case before a grand jury seeking a superseding indictment that would charge all the defendants together in the case, Reese was named as the fifth defendant.
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.
Investigation
According to court documents, an informant told police 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 further told police Babauta, Chandler and Manibusan were involved and were overheard talking about beating Susuico to death, documents state.
Since Reese was charged via an indictment, his alleged actions are not detailed.
On Jan. 24, 2023, a pair of hunters near the Guam International Raceway in Yigo discovered a lifeless body later identified as Jason Susuico.
