Three teen girls charged with murdering 17-year-old, dumping her in a creek

Published 10:15 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Three 16-year-old girls are charged with capital murder in the death of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found in an Alabama creek, police said Tuesday.

Montgomery police said the teenagers were being held without bond in the slaying of Lesley Luna Pantaleon, who was last seen alive in June, news outlets reported. Her body was found in water near the city’s airport on July 4, police said.

Ta’Niya Merriweather, Erin Taylor and Tyeshia Whisenant, all of Montgomery, were charged with murder during a robbery, court documents showed. News outlets reported that the three were charged as adults, and police said they were involved in a fight with Pantaleon.

Court records did not list defense attorneys for any of the three, who were due in court for an initial hearing Wednesday.

Pantaleon’s parents reported her missing on June 24, when she was last seen driving a vehicle in Montgomery.

Authorities have not said how Pantaleon died.