Brian Gaither, who was arrested last month on suspicion of killing missing 18-year-old Latisha Frazier, will now answer to the charge of first-degree murder.
Gaither was presented with a second-degree murder charge in the case on Jan. 24. Friday, at what was to be a preliminary hearing, the government withdrew that charge then presented him with the first-degree charge.
He is one of five defendants in the case, all of whom are now charged with first-degree murder.