Suspect Charged With Murder And Rape Receives Bond Increase

WCCB Web Staff,

 

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Court records show Raphael Wright Jr.’s bond amount was increased from $50,000 to $850,000 in reference to charges he obtained following the death of 27-year-old Michelle Schechter back in June.
Wright Jr. is charged with first degree murder and first degree forcible rape in connection with the death investigation. The increase in the charge comes after the State filed a motion and order to modify or revoke pretrial release conditions on July 11th 2024.
– Read below for previous coverage.

Original Story:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A suspect, accused of raping and killing a woman at a west Charlotte hotel, posted bond Friday, according to CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings.

Raphael Omar Wright Jr., 22, was arrested on Thursday in Rock Hill in connection to a homicide on Glenwood Drive.

According to Chief Jennings, a Mecklenburg County District Court Judge set Wright’s bond, for first-degree murder and first-degree rape, at $50,000, which was posted Friday.

“Disappointed doesn’t begin to describe how I feel in the decision to set a bond that low for a suspect charged with such serious violent felonies. I have always maintained that there is no bond amount that is sufficient for a community’s peace of mind regarding their safety,” Chief Jennings said. “This type of bond amount for Murder is exactly what I worked to eliminate when I advocated for the Pre-Trial Integrity Act that was signed into law in 2023.”

Around 10:20 p.m. on June 16th, CMPD, Charlotte Fire and Medic responded to the Econo Lodge on Glenwood Drive in regards to an assault with a deadly weapon. 

Officers located a woman, identified as 27-year-old Michelle Lynn Schechter, with a gunshot wound. She was transported to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

“The CMPD takes violent offenses against our community members seriously and we utilize all available resources to hold those offenders accountable,” Chief Jennings said. “We continue to ask our judicial partners to do the same.”

The incident is still under investigation.