A teen from California has been accused of stabbing an Uber Eats Driver in National City for reasons that are yet to be known. Raquel Spohn Wehber, a 58-year-old, was found in an unresponsive state in the cab she drove on July 6. Her car was parked near 1800 Lanoitan Avenue.
The suspect, 17, was booked into the San Diego Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of murder. She was arraigned virtually in the stabbing incident which occurred on Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty in juvenile court through her attorney.
The police were alerted about the incident by a passerby who rang in 911 as soon as she noticed it, followed by an investigation at 3pm on Tuesday. A deeper probe threw light on the nature of the crime—the National City Police Department alleged that Wehber appeared to have been stabbed multiple times and efforts to revive her at the scene were unsuccessful, reported Fox News.
It was further noted that a female suspect was spotted fleeing the scene of the crime. Police were tipped off about the suspect by a witness, the information being critical of taking her into custody. The juvenile’s name continues to be withheld from the public on the grounds of her being a minor.
Friday’s arraignment in juvenile court saw the suspect’s parents and the victim’s husband in attendance via teleconference. The teen is being charged with two counts of felony-- one being for for murder and another for torture, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, People reported. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Not much has been disclosed about Wehber’s familial history or whether she was known to the suspect. Uber reacted to the gory episode and expressed heartfelt condolences to their deceased employee’s family.
“The senseless and brutal crime that took the life of Raquel Spohn Wehber is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with her family. We stand ready to work with law enforcement on their investigation,” stated Uber in a statement to Fox 5.
Prosecutor Cherie Somerville told KNSD that the district attorney’s office will make requests to Superior Court Judge España to move the case to an adult court, as the team wants her to be charged as an adult. The victim will be back in court on July 20 for a readiness hearing.
