Teen, Soldier Boyfriend Face Court In Mom's Slaying

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- An eighth-grade student and her soldier boyfriend, who was stationed at Ft. Meade, are expected to make their first court appearance in Pennsylvania on charges they conspired by text messages to kill the girl's mother.

Witnesses will testify in the Lehigh County Courthouse Thursday to determine if there's enough evidence to try 14-year-old Jamie Silvonek and 21-year-old Caleb Barnes on criminal homicide and related charges.

Police discovered 54-year-old Cheryl Silvonek's body in a shallow grave in South Whitehall on March 15.

The district attorney has said the girl urged Barnes to kill her mother because she was not allowing them to date.

The teen's father told The Morning Call newspaper that was "ridiculous." David Silvonek blames Barnes.

Barnes, who is from El Paso, Texas, was stationed in Maryland.