Teens to face trial in death

Friday, March 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A 16-year-old Henderson girl and two of her friends have been ordered to stand trial in District Court on charges of murdering her stepbrother for his car stereo and CD collection.

After a day-long preliminary hearing Thursday, Henderson Justice of the Peace Rodney Burr ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold the trio for trial on the charges that could put them in prison for life.

Traci Rutherford, Tiffany Robbins, 15, and Christopher Kyriacou, 19, are set for arraignment April 18 in District Judge Don Chairez's courtroom.

The murder victim, Michael O'Rourke, 19, was found Feb. 28 lying face down on the kitchen floor when his mother returned from work to their home at 348 Keating St., off Pecos and Warm Springs roads.

A ligature was tied around his neck and there was evidence of a struggle after he apparently was ambushed, police said.

The car stereo, compact discs and O'Rourke's wallet were found inside Kyriacou's apartment, along with gloves believed to have been used in the murder, according to Lt. Monty Sparks.

The car, a red 1991 Ford Probe, had been taken from the house and was found abandoned in the 2000 block of Ramrod Avenue in Henderson.

The girls are facing charges as adults under the Nevada law that automatically certifies people charged with murder or attempted murder as adults.