(WWJ) A young Downriver woman has been charged in the slaying of her live-in boyfriend, and her father is accused of helping her to cover it up.
Preaija Pope, 22, was arraigned last Friday in 24th District Court on charges of first degree premeditated murder and felony firearm, and was ordered held without bond.
According to prosecutors, it is alleged that Pope fatally shot 30-year-old Timmy Robinson the night of Oct. 21, 2020, at the apartment they shared in the 430 block of Gale Street in Melvindale.
Police arrived on the scene to find Robinson lying on the street with blood around his head and a head wound. He was treated at the scene and taken to a local hospital where he died.
Outside the apartment, police confiscated a shotgun and other evidence.
Investigators say that after Pope shot her boyfriend, her dad — 44-year-old Perry Pope of Taylor — tampered with evidence at the crime scene.
The elder Pope is charged with tampering with evidence – crime over 10 years, accessory after the fact, felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of felony firearm. He was arraigned on the charges and given a $25,000/10% bond, with the condition he wear a GPS tether if he is released.
As for a motive for the killing, that's still unclear. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that specific facts and evidence in the case will be placed on the record in court at the preliminary examination.
Preaija Pope, meanwhile, remains in the Wayne County Jail as she awaits her next court appearance, a probable cause conference set for Feb 16. Her father's probable cause conference is set for March 1.