Bail set at $1 million each in 2016 Cedar Rapids stabbing death of Christopher Arteberry Jr.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Bail was set at $1 million cash for each of the two people arrested in connection with the September 2016 stabbing death of Christopher Arteberry Jr.

Darius T. Alexander, 19, of Cedar Rapids, and Emily N. Young, 21, of Iowa City, appeared via video before a judge Thursday morning.

They have both been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.

According to Linn County Attorney's Office criminal complaints and Cedar Rapids police, Alexander and Young set out to rob Arteberry on Sept. 30, 2016, during a drug deal set up by Alexander. Authorities said the robbery took place around 2:09 a.m. in a vehicle at 6710 College Park Court SW, an apartment complex about a mile from the Kirkwood Community College campus.

Authorities said Arteberry was threatened with a knife and then stabbed in the chest with the knife.

'The co-defendants escaped from the scene and Arteberry stumbled to a nearby apartment of some friends where he collapsed,” the criminal complaints read.

A neighbor, Tarrah Daleness, previously told The Gazette she saw Arteberry outside her window, bloody and carrying a kitchen knife. When she opened her door, Arteberry collapsed on her floor. Daleness said Arteberry was suffering from a deep cut on the side of his chest.

Police responded to the scene and Arteberry was treated and taken to Mercy Medical Center. He died about an hour later, authorities said.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Cory Speth sought the million dollar bail for Alexander and Young due to the severity of the crimes. Tyler Johnston, an attorney with the Linn County Public Defender's Office who appeared alongside Alexander, argued that amount was 'way too high” for his client.

Johnston noted that Alexander has been cooperating with police during their investigation of Arteberry's death for a year and has remained in the area.

'He has not fled,” Johnston said.

Citing the 'extremely serious charge” against Alexander and Young, Judge Casey Jones agreed to set bail at $1 million cash.

Jones appointed the Linn County Public Defender's Office to represent Alexander and the Johnson County Public Defender's Office to represent Young, who appeared alone via video during her initial appearance.

First-degree murder is a felony punishable by an automatic life sentence.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com