Suspects extradited from California, face second degree murder charges

Posted on April 1, 2016

Dwarfed by an orange jail jumpsuit and hair pulled into a messy bun, Oriana Lynn Forsythe was a lonesome figure staring at the camera during her (video-conference) first appearance hearing before County Judge Bill Blue Thursday morning.

However, the slight 17-year-old with tear-swollen eyes faces a series of charges that thrust her firmly into the realm of adult responsibility: second degree murder, accessory after the fact, tampering with evidence, grand theft of a motor vehicle and grand theft of a firearm.

PHOTO: Oriana Lynn Forsythe celebrated her 17th birthday just eight weeks before the murder of Steinhatchee resident Aaron Tappe. The Ohio teen, and her boyfriend, Douglas Lee Mihal, 20, are both charged with second degree murder in the case.

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