A 13-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 77-year-old woman in Indianapolis earlier this month.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department conducted a welfare check at the home of Cecelia O’Bryan on February 11 and found her dead, with “injuries consistent with trauma,” WISH reported.
A second 13-year-old boy was also arrested and charged with a burglary at the home after her death. Police have not said if he has any connection with O’Bryan’s death.
The case has been handed over to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges.
According to WRTV, a judge can decide if a child as young as 12 can be tried as an adult for murder. Teens 16 and older are automatically tried as adults under Indiana law.
The burglary charge, however, can’t be sent to an adult court for a 13-year-old, unless prosecutors choose to file a felony murder as burglary charge, indicated a victim died while the burglary was being committed.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Ryan Clark at 317-327-3475 or e-mail him at Ryan.Clark@indy.gov. Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS).
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