Two years after the disappearance of 23-year-old Christina Morris from a Collin County shopping mall, investigators are treating the mystery like a homicide investigation. But when 12 Collin County jurors convene next week for the trial of Enrique Arochi, the charge facing the 26-year-old will be kidnapping – not murder. The lesser charge resulted from the fact that Ms. Morris’ body has not been found. But Dallas criminal defense attorney John Teakell says a lot people don’t realize that Texas law applies the same range of penalties for both murder and first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping – up to life in prison. Mr. Teakell, a former federal prosecutor who is not involved in this case, says prosecutors likely felt pressure to provide a speedy trial for Mr. Arochi, who was indicted last December. And since there is no statute of limitations for a murder charge, authorities can always choose to refile charges should Ms. Morris’ body be found. With Christina still missing two years later, prosecutors will use all of the forensic evidence and surveillance footage they have collected to build a case highlighting Mr. Arochi’s conflicting statements while attempting to draw a straight line between him and this suspicious disappearance,” he says.

To interview Mr. Teakell, contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or robert@androvett.com.