Jury Convicts Washington in One Hour

After six weeks of testimony, including Darieus Rashad Washington spending hours on the stand in his own defense, a Columbus County jury returned with a guilty verdict in around an hour Monday.
Washington, 23, was found guilty in the first degree murders of Alexis Ciprian Trujillo, age 5; the child’s mother, Nancy Trujillo Espinoza; and Leonel Ciprian Noyola; the attempted murder of Rafaela Noyola Jaramillo; assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and larceny of a motor vehicle. Washington’s sentencing hearing was continued to a later date, presumably so he can testify against co-defendant Prentis Deshawne McDuffie.
The verdict came down on what would have been Alexis Trujillo’s 11th birthday.
Washington and McDuffie killed their victims in September 2019 at a home on Brittany Lane, Whiteville. Leonel Ciprian Noyola was found in the yard, and the mother and child were found inside. Rafaela Noyola’s husband, Fernando, was working out of town when the killings occurred.
Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene just before 7 a.m. Shell casings from .40 and .380 firearms were found inside the bloody home.
The men used two stolen handguns in the robbery. Washington was originally arrested Sept. 10, 2019, during a drug raid at a home on Twin Pines drive, in the stolen car. He was initially charged with felony cocaine possession and possession of a stolen vehicle.
On Sept. 10, deputies were called to New Britton Highway where two men were operating a car matching the description of the Noyolas’ Ford. The men stole a pickup that was eventually recovered in Myrtle Beach.

McDuffie was arrested in October 2019 on charges from an August home invasion in Whiteville. He allegedly used an AR-15 rifle to take electronics, jewelry, and a bobblehead doll from Edward James Worley on Aug. 19. He allegedly assaulted the victim during the robbery, according to warrants.
McDuffie stayed on the run until he was spotted by Whiteville Police in the Ivy’s restaurant parking lot. McDuffie resisted while being taken into custody. He was charged with second degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of stolen goods and resisting an officer in that case.
McDuffie’s trial has not been placed on the calendar.