Man charged with killing Charlotte Uber driver will not face death penalty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man charged with killing a Charlotte Uber driver will not face the death penalty, according prosecutors.

James Stevens, 20, appeared in court Thursday to hear the decision.

Stevens is one of two men accused with killing Marlo Medina-Chevez. Diontray Adams, 25, also faces charges.

Authorities said Stevens and Adams murdered Medina-Chevez in May and dumped his body in South Carolina, where it was found severely beaten and bound.

[PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Friends, family to say goodbye to slain Charlotte Uber driver]

Police officers arrested the two men in Maryland, where they said Stevens and Adams were found driving Medina-Chevez’s Nissan Pathfinder. Authorities said a roll of duct tape and a BB gun with Medina-Chevez’s blood on it were found in the SUV.

A spokesman for Medina-Chevez’s family said they’re at peace with the prosecutors’ decision to not pursue the death penalty, but he added that the family isn’t ready to speak publicly about the case until it moves further along in the court process.

The next step is for Stevens to appear in court to enter a guilty or not guilty plea, but that likely won't happen for several more months.

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