Indiana boy, 14, charged with murder, molestation after 6-year-old girl found dead
NEW CARLISLE, Ind. – Authorities have charged a 14-year-old boy with murder, felony murder and child molestation after a missing Indiana girl was found dead in New Carlisle earlier this month.
According to the South Bend Tribune and WNDU, the teen, whose name has not been released, appeared in St. Joseph County Probate Court on Monday, more than a week after the body of 6-year-old Grace Ross was discovered near Chapman Drive on March 12. Medical examiners determined that the girl died by asphyxiation, the Tribune reported.
A petition for delinquency has been filed in juvenile court against the teen, whom authorities arrested the day of the girl’s death, according to the Tribune. Next, the state will review the teen’s age and history, as well as psychological tests, before determining whether to send his case to superior court, the newspaper reported.
“In juvenile court, there are a lot of options that aren’t available in adult court,” Deputy Prosecutor Chris Fronk told the Tribune. “We want to make sure whatever course we take is well-thought out, well-reasoned and the best course to ensure we are seeking justice and protecting the community.”
