NORTH COUNTY ---- A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a judge's decision to deny a convicted killer's request for a new trial in connection with the stabbing death of an Escondido woman 10 years ago.
As a 15-year-old in 1995, Danielle Nicole Barcheers of Escondido became the youngest girl in state history charged with murder as an adult. She was convicted in 1997 of first-degree murder in connection with the September 1995 stabbing death of Elizabeth "Betty" Carroll, 53, in her Escondido home.
In 1999, a state appeals court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Barcheers was convicted of first-degree murder again in May 2000. A state appeals court upheld the second conviction, and the state Supreme Court declined to review the case.
Barcheers' attorney filed a petition in February 2003 in federal court, asking for a writ of habeas corpus to order a third trial. That request was denied on Aug. 7, 2003, prompting the appeal that was decided Tuesday.
Barcheers is serving 25 years to life in prison for Carroll's murder. Her boyfriend at the time was also convicted of murder and is serving life in prison without parole. Another teenager charged in the case was acquitted of murder, but was convicted of less serious charges for taking items from Carroll's home the night of she was slain. He was paroled in October 1999.
Thank god, I hope she rots in prison.