Teen charged as adult in killing of Sacramento girl found dead in car

Christopher Simpson was arraigned as an adult in the shooting death of 15-year-old Macy Murphy, the girl found dead in a car Sunday in a south Sacramento neighborhood.

The 17-year-old, held in Sacramento County juvenile custody since his arrest Monday by Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies, leaned forward on the bars of his courtroom cell as Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman read the murder charge, but he otherwise showed little reaction at the afternoon hearing.

Bowman ordered Simpson back to court June 22.

In the gallery, a row each of Murphy’s family and friends and Simpson’s listened silently in the crowded courtroom, but none spoke with a reporter.

A night earlier, about 100 people congregated at Illa Collin Park near Calvine Road in south Sacramento to mourn the sudden loss of a girl described as a budding artist who was loved by her family.

One of her grade school teachers recalled her as sensitive, intuitive and bright. Family members said she wanted to pursue a career in the creative arts.

A student at Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy Charter School, Murphy lived with her mother, Renee Pacli, in south Sacramento.

The Tuesday park gathering was blocks away from where Macy’s body was found Sunday in a car parked on Inisheer Way. She had been shot in the upper torso, sheriff’s officials said. Neighbors told authorities that the car had been parked on the street since late Saturday.

Macy’s grandmother, Debbie Pacli, said Monday that neither she nor Macy’s mother knew Simpson or whether Macy knew him.

Authorities continue to investigate.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Teen charged as adult in killing of Sacramento girl found dead in car."