Jury selection is scheduled to begin next week for a Yankton man accused of a 2019 murder.
De’Von Taye Lopez is being charged with murder in connection to the death of 61-year-old Deborah Lynn Schock of Yankton. Lopez is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in June.
Both sides of the case recently agreed to field 55 potential jurors in total with three alternates. Fifteen jurors, including the alternates, will hear the case itself.
Circuit Judge Cheryl Gering has tentatively set trial to begin Aug. 2nd, though this could be pushed back if jury selection lasts beyond its schedule next week.
According to court documents, on September 7th of 2019, the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office was called to a mobile home located east of Yankton for a report of a death. Family members had discovered Deborah Schock deceased in her residence. A preliminary investigation indicated that the victim had been deceased for several days.
An autopsy found that Schock had injuries consistent with strangulation.
