HENRICO COUNTY, Va. – A woman has been charged in the murder of 19-year-old Martre Coles, who had been missing since mid-March.
Denise Monique Gay, of Henrico, has been charged with second-degree murder in the teens death. Family members said that Denise Gay dated a relative of the deceased teen.
Prosecutors say a co-defendant will be extradited from South Carolina to Virginia. According to court records, Latoya Gay has been named as the co-defendant. Her charges are unknown at this time.
CBS 6 has not confirmed the relationship between the co-defendants at this time.
Coles' family members said the teen’s body was found in a container near the Nabisco plant, which is in the same vicinity as where other skeletal remains were found last Friday at the Old Dominion Landfill. Police have not released additional details about either case at this time.
Coles had been missing since March 12, 2017, his family said. He is a graduate of Highland Springs High school.
Martre Coles was missing since March 12. Family shared this photo with CBS 6.
A family member says she will remember him with a big heart who had a zest for life and didn’t deserve to die.
A neighbor who lives near Gay said that police have been coming in and out of the home for days.
"It's normally very, very quiet outside of the cars that want to use it as a speedway. But our neighborhood is very quiet,” said the neighbor. “Everybody chit chats every now and then with each other and that is pretty much is the only issue in our neighborhood.”
Denise Gay was given a court-appointed attorney Tuesday morning and her bond was denied.
A status hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 5.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Henrico Police at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “iTip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.
