Four suspects in Marlon Booker murder plead not guilty

MILWAUKEE -- The four suspects charged in the murder of Marlon Booker all waived their right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday -- and then pleaded not guilty to the charges they face.

Marionte Anderson, Devante Hollis, Tommie Hollis and Tamyra Smith are charged with a variety of felony counts including first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery, felony murder, arson and mutilating a corpse.

Booker was shot multiple times before his body was found inside an abandoned home that caught fire near 49th and Fairmount on February 8th. The home had been set on fire in an attempt to destroy the evidence of Booker's murder.

In court Tuesday, Booker's family was outspoken about the suspects' alleged crimes against Marlon. "I'm sorry they don't have the death penalty here. Those people do not need to live, to walk again," Annie Booker said.

According to the criminal complaint, Booker was targeted by Tommis Hollis because Hollis believed Booker always had three kilos of cocaine and $10,000 on him. Booker was convicted of cocaine manufacturing and delivery in 2006.

Tamyra Smith lived across the street from the abandoned house. Booker was her landlord and Hollis her boyfriend.

The complaint says Hollis and Smith, along with Marionte Anderson and Devonte Hollis, concocted a plan to lure Booker into the home where they would rob him.

The complaint shows Smith and Devante Hollis told police once they were in the abandoned home, that Tommie Hollis forced Booker into the basement, robbed and shot him. A couple of days later, Hollis allegedly offered Anderson $300 to burn the house down. Anderson confessed to spreading gas around the house and starting the fire.

Tommie Hollis faces a first-degree intentional homicide charge as well as an armed robbery charge. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Tamyra Smith and Devonte Hollis each face murder charges. If convicted, they could face up to 55 years in prison.

Marionte Anderson faces the arson and mutilating a corpse charges. He could face up to 40 years in prison and $100,000 in fines if convicted.

All four suspects are back in court on March 28th.



CLICK HERE to learn more about Marlon Booker.