I've missed posting with you as well...
Found this article about murder charges..
http://web.kitsapsun.com/redesign/2003-08-16/local/231613.shtml
Granted it's a different county but Washington State must work under the same procedures..
I will predict an indictment for 1st degree murder along with being charged as an adult due to his victim being a child under 12...aggravating circumstances will follow.
I wonder if this precious child was in bed and he took her from her bed and home, kidnapping would be another aggravating factor. I hope they throw the book of statutes at this beast..
Thanks for this info!! Very valuable.
My suspicions are that partying got out of hand. Way, way out of hand. I wouldn't be surprised if incidents happened in the past, but this time was different because of increased partying and pushing beyond what has happened before.
I have not sleuthed the suspect and apparently know less than other WSers, but hearing that the community is shocked leads me to believe this was not a creepy loner who gave off weird vibes. This is a young adult who people like. If he was liked, he probably was with friends.
I hope I am wrong, very wrong. I want to learn he acted alone, but I'm suspicious that others were involved or at least others knew about it.
Man. I was a "bad" kid and partied quite a bit with groups of teens. I would never describe the rape and murder or a baby as partying that got out of hand!!!
I can imagine the woods were for all sorts of play, .....and hiding from adults. Young people get sexualized so quickly with the internet and video games. And violence gets mixed with sex. Who teaches kids boundaries?
i must say something in defense of teen boys. I helped raise my three brother in laws (mother in law is mentally ill), through their rough and tumble years from 8, 10 and 12 through to adulthood (they're now 18, 20 and almost 22). I've been up to my ears in teen boys. Teens that disappoint you, gravely at times. Teens obsessed with war and violent videos. Teens who make terrible mistakes. Teens who try drugs, refuse to go back to school, beat up on each other and have anger fits that involve putting holes in walls and breaking valuable things.
Never would ANY I have known be capable if an atrocity like this.
Most teen boys are sweet natured,IMO, less burnt by the sun than older men, more innocent, tighter bonds with friends, more romantic with girlfriends, sweet with little ones, hopeful and positive about the world. In general.
I think it takes either a real monster or someone with a catastrophic mental illness to do something like this.
Interesting thought.
Gitana, thanks for being on this thread. Question. At age 17, do the parents represent the child with the atty? Can the parents make that decision if their isn't a guardian ad litem (can't remember the correct terminology) etc? How does that work? Can parents of a 17 year old over ride the wishes of a minor?
No. If they are in the juvenile system, parents are typically heavily involved in their defense. Talking to lawyers, hiring them, notified about court dates, etc. but they are not allowed to override the decisions of the teens.