Two Fort Wayne families react to plea deal in double murder case

Published: Dec. 30, 2021 at 11:58 PM EST
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - One of the three suspects arrested in connection with the double murder has entered a guilty plea.

Fort Wayne’s NBC News talked with the families victims’ who say in order to get Marina Zrnic to testify against Ronald Price, the man accused of pulling the trigger, prosecutors agreed to the lesser charge of attempted robbery.

Amanda Shroyer and Jennifer Ann Dray were identified as the victims in the double murder back in April. Shroyer’s mom Betty Davis and Dray’s sister Carlina Dray Schock are left with only memories.

“Those were important. Those were special moments,” Davis said.

Instead of celebrating Christmas, they’re navigating a justice system that sometimes requires compromise which was Zrinc entering a guilty plea.

Zrnic was originally charged with Felony Murder and Robbery. According to court documents, Zrnic identified Ronald Price as the shooter which says he came to a home on Third Street as her bodyguard then “just started shooting.”

“I don’t feel that is right. We took the deal because we needed her to testify against other individuals in the case and so we went ahead and took that plea for now because we needed her to identify the shooter,” Davis said.

Davis believes Price should spend the rest of his life behind bars.

“I don’t feel safe knowing he could be out on the streets, 20 to 30 years from now. I think he should remain behind bars where he is no longer a threat to anyone else’s family. Our families already are the example of what he’s done,” Davis said.

Fort Wayne’s NBC News also talked with Dray Schock who is deaf. Davis helped translate her thoughts, including the fear that if the deal goes through. Zrnic could be free in a decade.

“We really don’t know who people are and so we don’t know what could come of that, if or when she gets out, and I don’t personally myself feel safe.”

She says her sister always had her back and she had big plans.

“She would always step up for me in the community. She said in the future she wanted to be an interpreter but that didn’t pan out.”

A sentencing hearing for Zrinc is set for March 4th and for Price, he is due back in court on January 12th.

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