In a court proceeding on Thursday, a teenage suspect connected with the murder of a Memphis street vendor saw his bond set at a staggering $1.2 million—a sharp increase from his previous bond of $100,000. Demarion Tackett, the 16-year-old defendant, faces severe charges including first-degree murder for the death of 76-year-old John Materna, known locally as the "Watermelon Man." As Action News 5 reported, Tackett's indictment came earlier this month after an incident in May 2023 where Materna was shot during an alleged robbery.
The increased bond likely reflects Tackett's previous actions while out on bond. After being released to adult court on a $100,000 bond in March, he was to attend another court hearing but failed, leading to a three-week manhunt that ended with his capture by U.S. Marshals in July. Daniel Materna, son of the slain fruit vendor, expressed the family's relief at the new bond value, telling FOX13 Memphis, "We're pretty happy with the bond right now, hoping that keeps him where it needs to be."
Tackett's charges extend beyond murder to include aggravated robbery, carjacking, and unlawful possession of a firearm, stemming from the incident that ended with the tragic loss of Materna, who had been a fixture in Memphis selling watermelons from his truck. The high bond aligned with the prosecution's request, as per WREG.
