Mistrial for man in death of girlfriend's niece, age 5

DETROIT (AP) - A judge has declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked while deliberating the fate of a Detroit man accused of abducting, raping and killing his girlfriend's 5-year-old niece. Twenty-two-year-old Darnell Cheatham is charged with first-degree murder, torture, arson and other crimes in the death of Mariah Smith. Her burned remains were found in a vacant house in 2011. Defense lawyer Kareem Johnson says Cheatham maintains his innocence. Wayne County Circuit Judge Ulysses Boykin declared the mistrial Tuesday. County prosecutor's spokeswoman Maria Miller says in a statement that prosecutors will retry the case and says a pre-trial hearing is scheduled Friday. Published: Thu, Jul 31, 2014