By Don Smith

There has been movement in the 2013 Alexis Urbina Murder Case. Alexis (2016 Olympic boxing hopeful) was beaten to death in his South Phoenix home in the early days of September, last year. Months later, Robert Chavez and Joseph Jessie Corrales were arrested for suspicion of burglary and murder after the Phoenix Police Department received call(s) from citizen(s) who were approached by a young Hispanic male trying to sell a digital camera that contained images of the 17 year old boxer. At the time of the incident (before noon) Urbina was home preparing to switch to online high school classes.

According to submitted reports provided by media and police authorities, the camera (one of the stolen items) was handed to the prospective buyer and he (name withheld) upon seeing the pictures of slain fighter called authorities after the suspect left with the camera.  Within days, one of the suspects was arrested and his comments led to the arrest of the second suspect.

Corrales had a hearing scheduled for Monday, December 29th, but it was vacated and reset for Monday, January 5th at 8:30 AM as a “status conference/possible change of plea.”

Robert Chavez is scheduled to have a conference hearing on January 12 and a tentative trial date of January 27 is listed. According to Kelly Vail/Multi Media Journalist and public information officer (Maricopa County Superior Court), officially, no change of plea has been entered by either defendant as of January 29. The hearing is open to the public.

This information is contrary to what two area boxing fans reported after allegedly hearing a “breaking” report on channel 3 news. When in doubt, it is always best to check with knowledgeable sources. This column will follow and investigate whatever confirmed news comes across our desk.

I saw Sulem Urbina Soto (sister of Alexis) at a recent Silver Gloves Tournament and she told me, she wasn’t sure she would attend the trial, if conducted, of either suspect. Sulem is trying to go ahead with her life, but it will take time. She is getting out more; I saw her at the Victory Outreach boxing show posing for a picture with former world boxing champion Fernando Vargas but she was gone before I could say hi. The community has been very supportive and they wish her well in her quest to represent Mexico in the 2016 Olympic Games; hubby Andrew Soto is her head coach.