Woman pleads in Liberty double-murder

Staff report

WARREN

Shalenda T. DeFoor, 20, of Youngstown has pleaded innocent to tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice in the Nov. 15 homicides in Liberty Township of Wilneice Green and her daughter, Ja-Brajasia.

DeFoor entered the plea last week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

DeFoor is the girlfriend of Marquese Floyd, 25, of Youngstown, one of the five people charged in the homicides, which occurred at Green’s home on Northgate Drive in Liberty.

Police said DeFoor told them she overheard Denise Jackson, 25, of Youngstown, telling Floyd on Nov. 15 that Semmie Shorter, 38, of Youngstown “had to pay” for allegedly molesting a teenage girl at Green’s house the previous day.

She also told police Floyd told her that he, Jackson and three others went to Green’s home to kill Shorter, but Melvin L. Turner, 36, of Maryland killed Green and her daughter instead.

All five of the people reportedly involved in the killings are in custody.

DeFoor passed a lie-detector test regarding her statements, police said.

DeFoor’s next hearing is Oct. 25.