RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two of the three people charged in connection with the death of Jason Horned Eagle made their first court appearances Tuesday in Pennington County.
Barbara Diaz and Walter Cordon are facing charges including unauthorized dissection of a human body, failure to notify law enforcement or the coroner of a death, and failure to provide information. Cordon’s bond was set at $750,000 cash only, while no bond was set for Diaz.
Horned Eagle, 33, was found dead at a Rapid City hotel in July. A third co-defendant, Diana Hairy Shirt, is scheduled to appear in court later this week.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Horned Eagle’s family asked that Diaz and Cordon not appear together in future court proceedings, a request that was approved by the judge.
The family also says it plans to pursue changes to South Dakota law after the case concludes, arguing that current penalties for unauthorized dissection of a human body are too lenient.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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