"Judge Elia Ortiz issued the order at the end of a brief hearing Monday for Vallejo resident Jonathan Nicholson Jr., 24, and Santa Rosa resident Jessica Whitten, 21. Both are charged with murder and had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors would begin laying out their evidence. Instead, lawyers focused on Santa Rosa resident Judith Adolph, who is also charged in the case and is expected to testify for prosecutors."
"The shooting happened on Riverside Drive, a residential street near the Napa River. According to police, Villasenor and Mufich were shot there April 13, 2024. One died at the scene and the other at a hospital. Investigators say the three suspects went to the area because Adolph planned to fight one of the victims. During the confrontation, one of the victims stabbed Adolph."
Judge Elia Ortiz paused court proceedings in the 2024 killings of two young women while attorneys review hundreds of recorded jail phone calls. Defendants Jonathan Nicholson Jr. and Jessica Whitten are charged with murder and had a preliminary hearing scheduled. Attorneys focused on co-defendant Judith Adolph, who pleaded no contest to lesser charges in March and is expected to testify; defense lawyers say the calls could undermine her credibility. The victims, Aileen Villasenor, 19, and Sasha Mufich, 17, were shot April 13, 2024, on Riverside Drive. Investigators allege Adolph planned a fight, one victim stabbed Adolph, Nicholson masked and opened fire, and Whitten drove the getaway car. Neighbors called 911 and security cameras aided suspect identification and arrests.
Read at The Mercury News
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