Two teens accused of killing another teen on his front porch in Antioch in 2021 have been found guilty of first-degree murder.
E.J. Utley was 15 at the time he was killed and a freshman at Hillsboro High School. According to police and court testimony, EJ was killed on his father’s front porch by then 16-year-old Wilton Alexander after being lured out of the home by Wilton’s girlfriend, Trameisha Farris, who was 15 at the time.
Assistant District Attorney Jenny Charles tried the case, along with ADA’s Chantley Frazier, Wesley King, and Victim Witness Coordinator Cathy Harrison. General Charles admits it was a hard fought trial, and she’s thankful the Utley family received a favorable verdict.
EJ Utley and Wilton Alexander had been close friends, playing basketball together growing up. Their mothers were also close friends, and were both in court for the trial. A unique aspect during the trial came when Detective Chad High (a Metro Police Department expert) testified that the defense attorney’s late disclosed exhibits were potentially doctored and unreliable.
The jury agreed with that assessment, as well as the other proof presented by Nashville DA’s Prosecutorial team, and took less than 3 hours to convict both defendants. Both Alexander and Farris have been sentenced to life in prison.
Pictured below is the Nashville District Attorney’s team with EJ Utley’s family. Also pictured are the two defendants.
