October trial set for man charged in wife's 2005 death
A former Durham resident pleaded not guilty Monday to killing his wife more than seven years ago, and his trial was set for October.
Posted — UpdatedRaven Abaroa, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in the April 26, 2005, death of his wife.
Janet Abaroa, 25, was pregnant with her second child when she was stabbed to death in an upstairs room at the couple's Durham home.
Raven Abaroa has maintained that he was at a soccer game when his wife was killed and that he found her when he returned home later that night. He was arrested in February 2010 in Idaho, where he and the couple's son, Kaiden, had moved after Janet Abaroa's death.
Prosecutors said during a brief court hearing Monday that they have withdrawn all plea offers.
The trial was set to begin the week of Oct. 29.
"We are pleased it is moving forward," said Tim Dowd, a spokesman for Janet Abaroa's family. "It's been over seven years – by the time we get to the trial, 7½ years – so we are looking forward to this case being resolved and looking forward to the prosecution vigorously pursing justice for Janet and her unborn child."
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