Miami

Teen Charged in Rabbi's Murder Claims Innocence in Police Tapes

A 15-year-old boy charged in the murder of a rabbi in North Miami Beach repeatedly maintained his innocence in interrogation tapes obtained Thursday.

DeAndre Charles is charged with first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon in the August 2014 shooting death of Rabbi Joseph Raksin. Charles has already pleaded not guilty to the murder and is being held without bond.

NBC 6 took a look at hundreds of pages of the evidence and statements taken in the case against Charles, and got to see what he told police when they questioned him about the Rabbi's murder.

Charles was still 14 years old during the police interrogation. It was back near the end of May when police spoke to him a second time about what happened to Raksin.

Detectives asked Charles what he knew.

"Zero percent," Charles replied.

"You knew nothing about the case back then?" a detective asks.

"Nothing about it but now I know something about the murder because I was telling you about the murder," Charles said.

Charles told the detective he had a suspicion some acquaintances may have been involved but he denied having anything to do with Raksin's death.

"This individual saw you running from the scene the day of the murder and identified you in a photo line up saying you're one of the two people he saw running from the scene. How would you explain that?" the detective asks.

"I don't know how to explain that because I was not there, like, I was not there. I don't know what the hell he's talking about. I don't have no clue of what he's talking about really," Charles said.

Fast forward to December 9th when Charles was seen already handcuffed after police took him into custody. He again denied any involvement.

"I woke up that morning. I didn't leave the house. I didn't leave the house that morning," he said.

The recordings show police had examined cell phone records they contend indicate Charles was at the murder scene. They say there is also DNA evidence.

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