Twelve-Year-Old Charged With Murdering Parents

Missouri Boy Charged With First Degree Murder; Hearing to Determine Whether He Can Be Charged as Adult

By LEE KAMLET
July 7, 2010



A 12-year-old Missouri boy is charged with the shooting deaths of his mother and stepfather inside their mobile home in Kaiser, Mo.

Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott says police found the bodies in the family's home in a mobile home park in the small town. They were identified as Rachael and Jaeson Duncan.

The boy has not been identified because he is a juvenile. He is charged with two counts of first degree murder. The 26th Judicial Circuit's chief juvenile officer, Tammy Walden, told ABCNews.com that a hearing will be held later to determine whether the boy will be tried as an adult or juvenile. He is being represented by the public defenders office.

A neighbor, Deborah Demarsh, told ABC affiliate KSPR that the boy was sitting on his front porch, calling out to Demarsh's daughter Alexus. "He said, 'Lexi, Lexi, my mom is dead.' And Lexi was like, 'What are you talking about? I don't understand."'

Demarsh said her daughter went to the porch, and saw the scene inside the mobile home. "She became frantic. She came here screaming and crying."

Another neighbor, Jason McKinnon, told KSPR "I heard the father had disciplined his son. Honestly, he (the father) always seemed alright with me."

A friend of the accused, Christopher Browne said, "He told me and my friend's mom his stepfather hit him," and that the boy tried to move out of his house the day of the shooting. He came over asking to live with my friend's mom, and she said, 'No, he'd have to talk to his parents. After that, he asked for a hug, and she gave him a hug. "

Boy Accused of Killing Parents Seen By Neighbors as 'Good Kid'

Browne said the 12-year-old then said he was going to "talk to his stepdad."

McKinnon described the suspect as "a pretty good kid. At least I thought he was."

Demarsh said, "Sometimes I think he's a little kid that's lost and no one is really paying attention."

From: http://abcnews.go.com/US/12-year-missouri-charged-shooting-parents/story?id=11106847