Teen’s murder trial moved to Spokane

KENNEWICK – The trial for a teenager accused of killing a Benton City coach has been moved to Spokane.

The trial for 15-year-old Jordan Castillo was moved Friday after attorneys agreed that it might be difficult to find jurors in Benton County who had not heard about the case, particularly following the two-week trial of Castillo’s co-defendant.

A jury convicted 17-year-old Robert Suarez on March 11 of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Bob Mars.

Mars, 44, of Richland, was stabbed Sept. 4 at Kiona-Benton Middle School.

Castillo’s trial is scheduled to start May 16. Castillo is accused of stabbing Mars while Suarez encouraged him. He is charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon allegation and first-degree attempted theft.