1 suspect facing 1st-degree murder trial in death of teen after 4 others plead to lesser charges

One man remains accused of first-degree murder for the death of a teen found at a Trenton, Ont., motel last year, while four others have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.                       (Dan Taekema/CBC - image credit)
One man remains accused of first-degree murder for the death of a teen found at a Trenton, Ont., motel last year, while four others have pleaded guilty to lesser charges. (Dan Taekema/CBC - image credit)

Four of five people charged with first-degree murder in the death of a teen in Trenton, Ont., last year have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Only one man, Aaron Ryan, remains accused of murdering the 17-year-old and is headed for trial. Two others, Harold Russell and Steven Courneyea, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the incident.

Provincial police previously said they were conducting a wellness check at a motel on Dundas Street E. on Jan. 7, 2024, when they found someone dead inside the building.

The judge in the case has ordered a publication ban, which prohibits the reporting of any information that could identify the victim.

The Quinte Courthouse is shown on Sept. 28, 2023.
The Quinte Courthouse is shown on Sept. 28, 2023.

Aaron Ryan is set to appear in court on March 7. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

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Nearly a month after the teen's body was found, police announced five people had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

The accused appeared in court last week where all but one entered pleas, according to court documents reviewed by CBC.

Khadijah Courneyea, 30, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer and served six months of pre-sentence custody. Courneyea also received two years of probation.

Morgan Belyea, 23, pleaded guilty to robbery and received a 14-and-a-half-month conditional sentence, including five months of house arrest, along with a DNA order, weapons prohibition and two years of probation.

Russell, 44, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a four-and-a-half-year sentence as well as a weapons prohibition and DNA order.

Steven Courneyea, 27, pleaded guilty to manslaughter as well as breaking and entering, theft and possession of stolen property. The manslaughter charge carried a sentence of five years, while the other charges added another year, according to court documents.

Ryan, who is now 28, is the sole accused still facing a first-degree murder charge and is set to appear in court March 7.