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Oct 8, 2009 10:32 pm US/Eastern
Slain Pregnant Girl Suspect Appears In Court
A Grand Jury Will Decide If He'll Be Charged As An Adult
MIRAMAR (CBS4) ―
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17-year-old Edward Jermaine Babbs was arrested and charged with first degree murder for the death of Stephanie Rabsatt.
CBS
A Miramar teen charged in the death of his pregnant 17-year-old ex-girlfriend and their unborn child appeared bond court Thursday afternoon. Edward Jermaine Babbs faces two counts of homicide in the deaths Stephanie Rabsatt and her baby.
17-year-old Babbs made his first appearance in court the day after he was arrested and processed as a juvenile. During Thursday's 1:00 pm court appearance, the judge ordered him held in juvenile detention for 21 days. During that time the state attorney's office could decide to have Babbs charged as an adult.
Police said during questioning, Babbs admitted to being the father of the unborn child. Rabsatt's family says was due to deliver a baby boy in November.
Chief Assistant public defender for juveniles Gordon Weekes says Babbs is a senior at Nova High School in Davie. "What we have is an honors student facing serious crimes and we want to get him the best defense possible," says Weekes.
Babbs lives with his stepfather, who is a Broward Sheriff's Officer Deputy.
Rabsatt's body was found inside a red Ford Taurus in the parking lot of a Winn-Dixie, located at 6301 Southwest 41st Street, last Friday night. Police said she had been shot multiple times.
Rabsatt's family has said she phoned a relative Thursday night to say she was with Babbs but they don't know why.
Rabsatt's grieving family members are relieved there's been an arrest and say they aren't surprised the father is being accused. "I know he wasn't too happy about the baby," explained Rabsatt's aunt, Carol Cunningham.
"I will never understand why someone would do something like this," Cunningham added. "This is a beautiful girl; she had all her life in front of her. She was so happy to have her baby boy."
Over the weekend, Rabsatt's distraught mother Karen Moore said, "Stephanie had bought clothes for the baby. She was excited about this baby. She was a smart girl and a computer genius."
The slain teen's cousin Karlita Francis says the family wants justice. "We want justice for Stephanie and the baby. She didn't deserve this. She was a good girl; she was respectful, she was brilliant. She didn't deserve this."
The family said they had been planning a baby shower for Stephanie; now they're making final arrangements.
Dozens turned out to remember Stephanie at a candle light vigil held Thursday in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie store where she died.
A public viewing will be held Friday at the First Baptist Church Piney Grove, at 4699 W. Oakland Park Blvd., from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Piney Grove.
CBS4's Sharrie Williams contributed to this story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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