Larry Derrera faces seven counts of murder in death of Ogallala man
OGALLALA, Neb. (KNOP) - 35-year old Larry Derrera faces seven counts in the 2017 stabbing death of John Fratis in Ogallala. His bond was set at 10 percent of $500,000, but as of Tuesday has not posted bond. He is currently in the Keith County Jail.
Derrera's next court date is on June 8th at 8:30 a.m. Mountain Time in the Keith County Courthouse for an uncontested preliminary hearing.
Derrara went before Judge Edward D. Steenburg Tuesday in Keith County Court for his first appearance. Derrara is being charged on seven counts for the murder he originally told authorities was committed by a 15-year old.
Now 18-year old Amadeus Leroux was the only suspect in the stabbing death of John Fratis in Ogallala on March 28, 2017. Leroux was being tried as an adult after Derrera claimed Leroux was the person who stabbed Fratis several times.
Derrera is being charged with the following:
Count one: 2nd degree murder
Count two: Use of a deadly weapon
Count three: Possess a deadly weapon while committing a felony
Count four: Assault 2nd degree
Count five: Accessory to 2nd degree murger
Count six: Accessory to manslaughter
Count seven: Possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.
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In 2017, Larry Derrera of Ogallala told police he witnessed the stabbing, and he blamed Leroux. Now, after a review of evidence by a private investigator and retired FBI agent hired by the Keith County attorney, the story is looking different.
This began when DNA evidence on the murder weapon came back with no trace of Leroux's DNA. There was, however, DNA from both the victim (Fratis) and Derrera. The two have a history of physical altercations, according to a Keith County Court affidavit filed May 19, 2020.
It is now claimed that Derrera and his girlfriend RayLynn Garcia were "engaged in a cover-up and fabrication of the truth," to pin the murder on the teenager.
It is believed that his girlfriend RayLynn Garcia was part of the cover-up, according to court documents. No charges have been filed against Garcia.
Court documents also list each of the people in this case as related either through blood, marriage, or both.