CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- After nine long years, the murder of a Chattanooga mother is finally being heard by a jury from Anderson County
This, as the prosecution tries to tie a former Chattanooga gang member to her death.
Andre Grier is charged with the 2016 murder of Bianca Horton in Chattanooga.
Horton had been set to testify against Cortez Sims, a member of the Athens Park Blood Gang, a group prosecutors say had as many as 100 people in it at the time of Horton’s murder.
Sims was ultimately convicted of a home invasion in 2015 that led to the death of Talitha Bowman and the paralyzation of Horton’s at the time one year old daughter, Zoey.
The trial of Andre Grier began with Chattanooga Police Officer Sgt. Jason Wood describing the scene on Elder Street where Horton’s body was found on May 25, 2016.
Sgt. Wood described the person who found Horton’s body as, “She was very visibly upset, crying, shaking. She had just found a dead body, something she had never seen before, so she was very disturbed by that.”
The prosecution argues she was brought there in a white van, where Sgt. Wood said he found evidence such as strike marks and shell casings.
Another witness, who are we keeping anonymous due to a court order, said that Horton’s car was left at her home at Stone Ridge Apartments.
Horton spoke to News 12 before her death on the impact this incident had on her family.
Horton told us in 2015, “She’s doing a little movement in her legs. They don’t know if it’s a reflex or not, that’s just something we have to work on with rehab… It’s real stressful. It’s real stressful and scary at this point… I’m just glad that she is still here with us.”
Andre Grier is one of three men that were charged in Horton’s murder.
The other two were Courtney High and Charles Shelton.
High took a plea deal last year and was sentenced to life in prison.
Shelton died from Covid complications in jail awaiting trial.
The prosecution says they plan to prove a web of conspiracy within the gang to silence Horton.
The defense, on the other hand, argues that the evidence against Grier is weak.
The trial continues into Wednesday.
If convicted, Grier could face the death penalty.
