JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE 8/16/2019: Police body camera footage released of Quiles just days after his pregnant teenage niece was reported missing.
On Thursday morning, Jonathan Quiles, the man accused of killing his pregnant teenage niece may face the death penalty.
Quiles pleaded not guilty, but the state said it plans to ask for the death penalty during his trial.
He is the sole suspect in the disappearance of Iyana Sawyer, and during his arraignment for first-degree murder charges, he walked into the courtroom with his hands shackled together.
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In July, Action News Jax news told you the State Attorney's Office charged Quiles with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of sexual battery.
On the other side of the room the prosecutor stood up and told the judge based on the evidence in the case the state would seek the death penalty.
Four months ago Action News Jax went through hours of interrogation video where they found evidence the two were in a relationship together.
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They also said Sawyer wrote about her pregnancy in her diary and claims Quiles was upset about it, but he denied any inappropriate relationship with his niece.
The 16-year-old disappeared in December while she was 5 months pregnant.
Police she was last seen leaving Terry Parker High School.
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Sources revealed in January that a landfill search off Otis Road was related to the teen's case.
Sawyer's body has never been found.
As soon as Quiles left the courtroom, Iyana Sawyer's family stood up, all of them wearing T-shirts with the teen's face, some with the words "We love and miss you Princess Ya-Ya."
We also asked Sawyer's family if they had anything to say after the arraignment but they told us "no comment."
BREAKING: The state is calling for the death penalty in the case against Jonathan Quiles. He’s the uncle accused of killing his niece and her unborn child. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/3VpGfUcXrK
— Alicia Tarancon (@AliciaANJax) August 8, 2019
Cox Media Group
