A Gary man’s trial was set for Aug. 26 in a brief hearing Thursday after his lawyer told the court that his co-defendant has since died.
Emmit Yarbrough, 56, is accused of taking the body of 30-year-old Deborah Leslie of Griffith to Gary to burn in an abandoned building after she overdosed in the company of himself and Heather Richardson.
Leslie was found Sept. 23, 2022 in a torched-out house on the 5300 block of W. 8th Avenue in Gary. She was last seen alive on camera at a Hammond Motel 6. Yarbrough and Richardson were the last people seen with her.
Yarbrough is charged with Level 4 felony arson, Level 6 felony abuse of a corpse, Level 6 felony altering the scene of death and three misdemeanors — two counts of failure to notify authorities of discovery of a dead body, and one count of failure to report human remains.
Lawyer Gregory Fouladi, who represented Richardson, 35, of Gary, previously argued prosecutors didn’t have evidence to prove she went to Gary with Yarbrough.
Court records show a further court date on Richardson’s case is scheduled March 28.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was not immediately available for questions on Richardson’s death. She was last in court on Jan. 4.
Her death “changes the complexion of the case,” defense lawyer Susan Severtson told Judge Natalie Bokota.
Yarbrough’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 23. Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie is assigned.
