Legal expert weighs chances of evidence suppression in alleged Lake Brantley High School murder plot
By Gail Paschall-Brown
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SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WESH) — A legal expert is weighing in amid new developments in the case of an alleged murder plot at Lake Brantley High School, in which court documents reveal a defense attorney is now trying to suppress evidence.
New documents have been filed this week in the case against Isabelle Valdez. The Lake Brantley High School student and her friend and classmate, Lois Lippert, are charged as adults in an alleged murder plot after law enforcement got an anonymous tip in January.
The State Attorney’s Office has released text messages in this case, including one that reads, “WE WILL BE LIVE-STREAMING KILLINGS IN THIS CHAT.”
Investigators say the girls were obsessed with a boy at their school because he resembled Adam Lanza, the shooter who massacred young children at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. They allegedly believed that by killing the boy, they would be able to bring the shooter back to life.
Valdez’s attorney, Edward Lopez, has filed a motion to suppress any and all evidence from an “illegal” seizure and search, as well as questioning of the teenager, plus any and all statements made by Ms. Valdez, any confession, and physical evidence, including evidence in her book bag.
Court documents state Valdez handed the assistant principal a white trash bag from her backpack containing a 10- to 12-inch knife, gloves, wipes, and other items.
WESH 2’s Gail Paschall-Brown asked criminal defense attorney Ryan Vescio, “What are the odds of this being suppressed?”
Vescio is not affiliated with the case but is an attorney with NeJame Law and was also a prosecutor for 15 years.
“The attorney did a very good job in presenting a thorough argument seeking suppression, however, the law is stacked against Ms. Valdez in this matter as it relates to school interrogation, searches, and because of that it’s likely that the motion to suppress might be denied,” Vescio replied.
Isabelle Valdez’s attorney also said his client was “not informed she could go back to class, nor were her parents contacted until hours later (…) and was not informed she was under investigation.”
“Parents should be concerned about this law, however, the Florida Supreme Court has held that police do not have to notify parents before speaking to their minor child,” Vescio explained.
The teenagers could be seen on video laughing and joking about the case after their arrest in January, in one instance cheering after finding out they were going to the same jail.
“Are we going to be in the same one?” Valdez asked an officer.
“Yeah,” the officer responded.
“Yay!” Valdez replied, followed by laughter.
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