Timeline of the Will Grahek murder trial
On Tuesday, Nov. 20 Noah Anthony Charles King was found guilty of aiding and abetting first degree murder of UMD student Will Grahek while trying to commit burglary and guilty of aiding and abetting second degree murder without premeditation. King is facing a life sentence with possibility of parole after 30 years. Grahek was 22 years old.
Timeline of the Will Grahek Murder trial
Feb. 14, 2017
Will Grahek, UMD student and U.S. Army reservist was shot twice at his home in the 500 Block of E. 11th street, Duluth, Minnesota. He died at the hospital. There was three burglars, Noah Anthony Charles King, Deandre Demetrius Davenport, and Noah Duane Baker.
Not expecting to find Grahek at his home, the burglars were looking for Grahek’s safe containing marijuana, molly, and cash. After Grahek refused to comply with their demands, burglar Demetrius Davenport shot him using a Glock 9mm handgun.
Others involved include Tara Rai Baker, the sister of Noah Baker and girlfriend of Deandre Davenport,. Tara Baker is believed to be the getaway driver. Xavier Alfred Haywood knew Grahek from a past drug deal and planned the safe heist. Haywood also housed the suspects the night of the murder in Signature Inn in Superior's Billings Park neighborhood.
March 3, 2017
Duluth police arrest Deandre Demetrius Davenport, Noah Duane Baker, Noah Anthony Charles King, Tara Rai Baker, and Xavier Alfred Haywood. All suspects, except for Tara Baker, have prior convictions in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
March 7, 2017
Tara Rai Baker is charged with aiding and abetting intentional second-degree murder and attempted first-degree aggravated robbery. Her bail was set at $500,000. Hayward was charged with aiding an offender to avoid arrest, his bail is set at $50,000. Hayward housed the defendants in a Superior hotel and initially planned the heist.
Davenport, King, and Baker were charged with aiding and abetting intentional second-degree murder and attempted first-degree aggravated robbery. Bail for each set at $1 million.
March 30, 2017
The five suspects appeared in court for first time since their March arraignments. Defense attorney of Davenport asked Judge Mark Munger to order state to release witness information and defer the prosecution to testing the DNA samples on the guns because it would destroy the evidence.
Aug. 22, 2017
St. Louis County grand jury indicted King, Baker, and Davenport on two counts of first degree murder. Charges allege that they caused Grahek’s death while attempting burglary.
April 13, 2018
Noah Duane Baker pleads guilty to the second degree murder of Will Grahek. Baker agreed to plea charges which granted him 30 years in prison rather than a potential life sentence. Baker testifies that plans were set to rob Grahek in Jan. 2017.
May 24, 2018
Noah Duane Baker, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for second degree murder. In his plea Baker said Davenport shot Grahek and that he was carrying a firearm while entering the residence.
Shortly after his plea agreement, Noah Baker’s sister, Tara Rai Baker, admitted to lying to the police after the shooting in an effort to cover up involvement of Davenport and her brother. Tara was sentenced to 57 months in prison after pleading guilty as an accomplice. However her sentence was stayed for a period of six years probation. Baker will also have to complete 120 hours of community service work helping veterans.
Sept. 18, 2018
Trial for Xavier Alfred Haywood, who is accused of harboring co-defendants at Superior Hotel and planning the heist is set for March 19, 2019.
Sept. 28, 2018
Trial of Deandre Davenport is moved to Brainerd, Minnesota set to begin at Crow Wing County Judicial Center on Dec. 4, 2018. Davenport is accused of four charges including first degree murder. Davenport and his defense asked Judge Mark Munger to have the trial moved based on heavy media coverage in the St. Louis county area. They feared that the jury would be swayed because of their exposure to the trial.
Oct. 29, 2018
Trial of Noah King starts. King is accused of being with Baker and Davenport and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of intentional second-degree murder and attempted first-degree aggravated robbery. If convicted of a murder charge King will face a life sentence with possible parole after 30 years.
King waived his right to a jury decision and instead opted for a bench trial.
Nov. 13, 2018
Noah Duane Baker, who is already sentenced to 30 years for second degree murder, testified as a witness and claims sole responsibility of the murder of Will Grahek. Baker testified priorly that he was with King and Davenport.
Nov. 15, 2018
After six days of testimony, hearings for King’s case ends. 6th Judicial District Judge Mark Munger has until Thanksgiving day to decide if King is guilty.
Nov. 20, 2018
Noah King was found guilty of aiding and abetting first degree murder of Will Grahek while trying to commit burglary and guilty of aiding and abetting second degree murder without premeditation.
Dec. 4, 2018
Trial for Davenport set to begin in Brainerd, Minnesota.
For more on Will Grahek and his legacy check out a previous article the UMD Statesman published here.