Couple appear in court in runaway teen’s death

The couple accused of killing a 17-year-old runaway and burying her body in the desert appeared Wednesday in District Court, where a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 10.

Gabriel Yates and Anne Osburn were herded into the courtroom shackled to fellow inmates. Each were supplied a copy of the complaints against them and told Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis that they fully understood the charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder and kidnapping they face.

Yates, who sat in the jury box with fellow male inmates, repeatedly mouthed words to Osburn, who was in the gallery. Yates then engaged in an argument with a bailiff, who escorted him to the far side of the jury box and sternly instructed him to quit communicating with Osburn.

"I'm not talking to no one," Yates, 31, loudly told the bailiff. "You're calling me names in secret so no one can hear you."

Osburn was noticeably more reserved. The 21-year-old softly answered the judge's questions.

The two are accused of killing Nichole Yegge, knocking out her teeth and cutting off her tattoos in an attempt to keep her from being identified. Officials also charge that they buried Yegge's body in a shallow grave. Police recovered her body Saturday after following Yates to the site.

Prosecutors said they are unsure whether a grand jury will convene to hear the evidence against the two and decide whether indictments should be handed down. If no indictments are issued, a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send the couple to trial will be held in September.