A man accused in the fatal carjacking and murder of Memphis pastor Rev. Dr. Autura Eason Williams has decided to take his chances in court over accepting a plea deal. Eduard Rodriguez Tabora, aged 22, rejected the state's offer of a 35-year sentence with eligibility for parole after 16 years for first-degree murder in facilitation, as he pleaded not guilty on Monday, resulting in his case advancing to trial.

Set to confront a trial on September 30, Rodriguez Tabora's report date is July 16, according to information provided by WREG. Shooting the pastor, Eason-Williams was tragically killed in her own driveway on July 18, 2022, where prosecutors recalled in court how a car pulled up, fired shots into her vehicle, and then forced her out before fleeing in it.

The case has seen other developments as well as one teen involved in the incident, whose identity remains undisclosed, has previously pleaded guilty and has been dealt with by the Department of Children Services until the age of 19. Another accomplice, Miguel Andrade, now 16, is already serving a 28-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and carjacking, reportedly serving 100 percent of his sentence, as stated by The Daily Memphian.

The rejection of the plea offer by Rodriguez Tabora signifies a possibly lengthier and more arduous legal process ahead. "The 22-year-old turned down the deal," announced Action News 5, underscoring the gravity of a decision that could lead to a more severe sentence if convicted at trial.

This trial echoes the continuing anguish of a community wrenched by the slaying of a beloved pastor, as the perpetrators and alleged conspirators face the consequences of their involvement in a crime that shook the Memphis area to its core.