Guilty plea entered in teen's murder
May 13—One of three teens charged in the 2023 death of a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case on Monday.
Kaden Wilfong, 17, of St. Joseph entered the plea in front of Circuit Court Judge Patrick Robb. He admitted to being involved in the shooting of Carter P. Smith, whose body was found in the early morning hours of June 15, 2023, near 28th and Commercial streets.
Several people were captured on video arriving at and leaving from the area on foot and a witness identified a number of those involved in the shooting.
According to court documents, following Smith's death, police went to Wilfong's home a few blocks north of where the shooting happened and watched the house. After obtaining a warrant, they searched it when Wilfong left and found several guns believed to have been involved in the shooting along with bloody clothes and a bloody bag matching one family members had described as belonging to Smith, a probable cause statement said.
Teontre Ziyhir Kirby and Jackson Lee Griffith also are charged with second-degree murder in Smith's death. Kirby is to appear before Robb for a trial-setting hearing on Monday, May 17, and Griffith has a similar hearing set for Friday, June 7. Both remain in custody.
Wilfong is being held in a juvenile facility without bond until his sentencing at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, July 26. He faces 10 to 30 years or life in prison.
