Teenager pleads guilty to murder of 16-year-old girl whose body was found behind dumpster

Police arrested juvenile for murder of 16-year-old Tayanna Manuel (KDVR)

DENVER (KDVR) — A teenager pleaded guilty to murdering a 16-year-old girl in December 2022 before her body was discovered behind a dumpster in Green Valley Ranch.

According to the Denver District Attorney's Office, Deontre Hollie, now 18, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault for shooting and killing Tayanna Manuel and also shooting and injuring another victim in northeast Denver.

Manuel's body was found on December 26, 2022, behind a dumpster at 4927 North Sedalia St.

Hollie is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20. According to the Denver District Attorney's Office, Hollie faces up to 80 years in prison for these charges.

Initially investigated as an open-air death

The Denver Police Department began its investigation into Manuel's death on Sedalia Street as an open death investigation, but later ruled it a homicide. The coroner's office determined that a gunshot caused his death.

Hollie initially faced charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury with a weapon, tampering with physical evidence and second-degree murder. He accepted a plea deal on June 21, according to court documents.

In 2022, FOX31 spoke with Manuel's mother and two sisters, who said they were frustrated with the early stages of the investigation. They also said they believed the case was connected to another shooting that happened a few days earlier and involved someone Manuel knew.

At the time, the Dock Ellis Foundation, which investigates missing black girls, also said Manuel's death was possibly linked to a shooting that occurred Saturday in the 4600 block of Kittredge Street.