'What are you gonna do?' One of five teens accused of brutally killing a 16-year-old in remote woods cocked his head and arrogantly spoke to the victim's parents in court

  • David Grunwald, 16, was allegedly beaten and shot dead on November 13
  • His remains were found in a remote location in Palmer, Alaska three weeks later
  • Five teenagers have been arrested over various charges relating to his murder
  • One teen Bradley Renfro appeared to address victim's parents in court
  • Witnesses claim he said 'what are you going to do?' as he left the courtroom 

One of five teenagers who allegedly murdered an Alaskan 16-year-old is accused of saying 'what are you going to do?' to the parents of the victim as he left court.

Bradley Renfro, 16, appeared to address the parents of murdered teen David Grunwald as he was escorted out of a courtroom in Palmer, Alaska on Tuesday.

Witnesses in the courtroom claim Renfro cocked his head as he walked past Ben and Edie Grunwald and said 'What are you gonna do?... Do something'.

Bradley Renfro, 16, (second from left) appeared to address the parents of murdered teen David Grunwald as he was escorted out of court in Palmer, Alaska on Tuesday

'It was extremely difficult to be in the same room with the five who brutalized and murdered our son. We felt violated and nauseous. It appeared they were smirking with a gang gang smugness about them,' Mr Grunwald said in a statement.  

Private investigator Luke Smith, who was sitting behind the Grunwald family, told Alaska Dispatch News that Renfro also gestured with his hands in what appeared to be a physical challenge before he was led out.

The remains of 16-year-old David Grunwald were discovered in a remote location in Palmer, Alaska on December 2 after he was reported missing three weeks earlier 

Renfro's parents claim that was not the case and said he was trying to talk to his own parents who were sitting behind the Grunwald family.

'He has no disrespect for the Grunwalds, I swear to God,' his mother Brittney Smith said. 'I want justice for David as well. I'm just sorry for everybody involved. But he definitely did not say that to them.'  

Renfro was among five teens to enter not guilty pleas over Grunwald's murder.

Grunwald was allegedly beaten, kidnapped and forced to walk into remote woods where he was shot dead execution style on November 13.

His body wasn't found until three weeks later on December 2 following a police investigation. 

Erick Almandinger, 16, was the first to be arrested a day after Grunwald's body was found. He was charged with murder and kidnapping. 

Four other teens, including Renfro, Austin Barrett, 19, Devin Peterson, 18, and Dominic Johnson, 16, were arrested and charged this week.  

Bradley Renfro (center) scans the courtroom in Palmer, Alaska on Tuesday. Beside him are Dominic Johnson (left) and Austin Barrett (right)

Austin Barrett, 19, (left) and Erick Almandinger, 16, (right) has been charged with first and second degree murder and kidnapping over the death of 16-year-old David Grunwald

Grunwald was allegedly beaten, kidnapped and forced to walk into remote woods where he was shot dead execution style on November 13

Johnson and Renfro have been charged with first and second degree murder and evidence tampering. Barrett was charged with first and second degree murder and kidnapping.

Peterson was charged with three counts of evidence tampering.

Almandinger allegedly told police Grunwald had come to his house to drink and smoke in a trailer behind his home.

Grunwald was then bludgeoned with a gun and put in the back of his own 1994 Ford Bronco as he was drifting in and out of consciousness, according to court documents.

The victim was then driven to a remote location where he was forced to walk into the woods before he was shot dead.

Grunwald's car was found burnt out a day after he was reported missing by his father when he failed to return home. 

Grunwald's car, a 1994 Ford Bronco, was found burnt out a day after he was reported missing - about 20 miles away from his home

Ben and Edie Grunwald called their son's death 'unconscionable' and called for Alaska to consider the death penalty, which hasn't been in the state since 1959

Erick Almandinger (pictured) was the first charged with Grunwald's murder and kidnapping

Authorities searched the trailer at the back of Almandinger's home on November 29 and investigators reported smelling bleach.

They allegedly found evidence of blood on the floor, walls and in the toilet.

Grunwald's disappearance sparked a widespread search at the time. 

He had told his girlfriend Victoria Danielle that he was going to see Almandinger - one of his accused killers - after he dropped her at her house in Palmer on November 13.

The pair, who both attended Mat-Su Career & Tech High School, had dated for more than a year. 

'I'll never forget the many times he told me he loved me. And the many times he told me he was going to marry me, he will always have a very special place in my heart,' Victoria told People

He had told his girlfriend Victoria Danielle (right) that he was going to see Almandinger - one of his accused killers - after he dropped her at her house in Palmer before he disappeared 

His parents Ben and Edie said their son was energetic and wanted to join the military

'He was very old-fashioned in many ways. Especially with dating. I was extremely lucky to be introduced to such a gem.

'He never let me open a door, he took me on real dates - he picked me up almost every Friday at 6pm to take me out to a nice dinner-  and said 'Yes, M'am' and 'No, Sir'.'

Grunwald's parents called his death 'unconscionable' and called for Alaska to consider the death penalty, which hasn't been in the state since 1959, KTVA reports.

'My son doesn’t get to breathe anymore. He’s gone. These kids - or these people - they get to breathe,' Mrs Grunwald said.

She said her son was energetic and wanted to join the military. 

'He loved going places and seeing things, and he just wanted to go, go, go,' she said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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