Former boyfriend of slain Durham high school student appears in court
DURHAM (WTVD) -- A judge ordered 17-year-old Kelton Fox held without bond Wednesday in the murder of his former Jordan High School girlfriend Tierra Hall.
Fox is charged with first-degree murder in the 17-year-old's death.
Hall's body was found beaten, stabbed, and abandoned behind a home in the 4100 block of Trotter Ridge Road Saturday afternoon.
Hall and Fox were classmates at Durham's Jordan High School.
Tierra Hall's mother was not in the courtroom Wednesday, but she told ABC11 that she prays she will one day be able to forgive Fox.
Koteya Hall said she was in complete shock when detectives told her Fox had been arrested.
She said she knew this boy, welcomed him into her home, and trusted him with her daughter.
They had broken up and gotten back together several times since November. Koteya says Tierra once described Fox as a "little too clingy" but never as a violent threat.
"I was in complete shock. I thought even if they weren't together at least they were friends. She never complained, never said anything about him being abusive or violent or anything. So when I learned that, it was another hit to the gut. I did not know. I did not know," said Koteya. "He was so mannerable. He shook my hand, He was 'Yes mam, no mam, made sure she got in the house before he left, everything! So I had no reason to think he would do anything to her. I thought he loved her!"
Fox is due back in court on April 23. Although the district attorney indicated a grand jury indictment against Fox will likely happen even sooner than that.
Meanwhile, a prayer vigil to honor the life of Tierra Hall will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. at Vintage Church, which is located at 4310 Garrett Road, in Durham.
