GRETNA, La. -- Family members of Raising Cane's manager Taylor Friloux wiped away tears in a preliminary hearing in a Gretna courtroom as a Kenner Police detective detailed the events the morning she was stabbed to death in late June.
Kenner Police Detective Brad Ricke described how surveillance cameras captured one of the suspects, identified by witnesses as Joshua Every, 23, stabbing Friloux in the parking lot. Friloux grabs her chest, then Every pushes her in the door, leading her by the arm to try and get to the restaurant's safe and money made selling chicken fingers that day, Ricke said.
Prior to the stabbing, the detective testified Every and co-defendant Gregory Donald, 18, forced three employees to the ground at knifepoint when they went outside to take out the trash.
At some point, the suspects let the other two unidentified workers go.
Friloux got up and went to the back door to get other employees' attention. In the process of trying to get in the door, police said Every stabbed her once in the chest. The other employees ran to try and get someone to call 911 about the robbery in progress but unknowingly ran to the getaway car allegedly driven by a third suspect, Mark Crockren, 24.
Despite having a bandana covering his face and a hooded sweatshirt over his head, several of the Raising Cane's employees recognized Every as a former employee. A capital defense attorney for Every questioned those identifications at Monday's hearing. After Every allegedly led Friloux into the office to try and get into the safe, Ricke said Friloux collapsed.
"As she laid on the ground, Mr. Every stood over her and repeatedly stabbed her in the neck, head and chest," he testified.
One of Friloux's ears was nearly severed in the attack, authorities said. She succumbed to the stab wounds at University Medical Center later that morning.
Every is facing first-degree murder and a slew of other charges.
Donald is currently charged with first-degree murder as well. His lawyer, Paul Fleming said evidence has not shown Donald had "specific intent" to kill Friloux.
Prosecutor Tommy Block argued Donald knew Friloux was stabbed and bleeding and yet allegedly continued to force her, with Every, into the office to get the money.
"He witnessed it. He was present. He allowed it to continue," Block said.
Donald's attorney Paul Fleming asked the detective whether he thought Friloux was targeted and whether there was ever a plan to kill her.
"It is our belief that it was known to Mr. Every that Ms. Friloux would bring the garbage out at night against company policy, it was supposed to stay inside until the next morning," Ricke said.
Crockren also told detectives after he turned himself in that he "didn't sign up for a murder" in conspiring to commit the robbery.
A fourth suspect, Ariana Runner, 22, is accused of functioning as a go-between for Every and Donald in planning the robbery.