(Marietta, GA – Nov. 8, 2023) Cobb County District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr. announces that Superior Court Judge Kimberly Childs has sentenced Brayan Rivas, 18, to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 20 years after pleading guilty to malice murder and violation of street gang terrorism and prevention act.
On April 8, 2020, Marietta Police were dispatched to the Roswell Road area of the City of Marietta in response to a missing juvenile female. Investigation revealed that the victim was with another juvenile. The two were going to a store in the area when they were confronted by the defendant, Brayan Rivas, who tried to start a fight with the male and threatened them both with a knife.

The two juveniles ran from the defendant, with the victim running away and the other taking the defendant's bike to escape. The defendant pursued the juveniles and lost sight of the male. It was determined that the defendant chased the juvenile female into the woods behind apartments at 1805 Roswell Road and stabbed her to death. 
In an interview with police, the defendant initially denied being responsible and claimed he witnessed two others kill the victim. In a subsequent letter obtained by law enforcement that the defendant mailed from jail, he confessed to killing the juvenile female and admitted his intention to also kill the male. 

Search warrants of the defendant's phone, social media, and residence revealed associations with the MS-13 criminal street gang, and the motive is believed to be that the defendant wanted to obtain membership in MS-13 by committing the killing. The knife that was used was also located at the defendant's residence and GBI testing confirmed the victim's DNA on the knife. 

"This was one of the most heinous and senseless murders that I have ever worked. The loss of any loved one is tragic, but the loss of a child to such a senseless violent act is immeasurable, I only hope that the family has some peace knowing that the man responsible will spend the rest of his days behind bars," said Assistant District Attorney Jay Winkler. 

Assistant District Attorney Jay Winkler and Jared M. Horowitz prosecuted the case on behalf of the state. The defendant was represented by Kalpin Bipin Shah.
 
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