BRIDGEPORT – The trial continues on Tuesday in superior court in Bridgeport for the man accused of murdering Eastern Connecticut State University sophomore Alyssiah Wiley.
The 20-year-old student went missing in April 2013, and her body was discovered weeks later in the woods of Trumbull. Her boyfriend of four years, 32-year-old Jermaine Richards, is charged with kidnapping and killing Wiley.
Testimony in the case began on February 6th with Sade Burke, Wiley’s best friend and the last person to hear from her before she disappeared.
According to the Connecticut Post, Burke received several text messages from Wiley the day she disappeared, saying she thought it was time to be single. Wiley was also spotted on surveillance video that day getting into a car with Richards.
That night, Wiley texted Burke to say she had ended the relationship and was on her way over to Burke’s dorm. Wiley never showed up, and Burke never heard from her again.
Twenty-seven days later, Wiley’s dismembered remains were discovered in the woods off of Quarry Road in Trumbull, less than two miles from Richards’ home.
According to the Post, Wiley’s classmates and teachers described her as a good student, but took note of Richards, whom they never met, but who often called Wiley to see who she was with and what she was doing.
One of Wiley’s psychology professors also testified that Wiley’s attendance dropped off sharply in the weeks before her disappearance.
In Richards’ arrest warrant obtained by FOX Connecticut, Richards told a friend in March 2013 that he would get rid of Wiley. When asked how, he replied, “Trust me. I’m a nurse.”
Richards is pleading not guilty to the murder.
