15-Year-Old Killed Mother With Sledgehammer Before Setting Fire To House With Brother Inside
A 15-year-old in Tennessee is being accused of savagely beating his mother to death with a sledgehammer, and then setting his family’s home on fire in order to kill his brother.
A Juvenile Court Judge in Tennessee has found Zachary Davis‘ alleged crimes too severe to try him as a juvenile, and he will now be processed as an adult.
“It was a horrific murder and the judge made the observation that it was a savage murder and that Zachary Davis could not be handled in the juvenile court and should go over to criminal court,” said Sumner County District Attorney Ray Whitley.
The ruling comes after a mental health evaluation the teen to be competent.
Davis’ mother, Melanie Davis, 46, was asleep on the night of August 10th, when Zachary came into her room and attacked her.
He then went upstairs into the Hendersonville home and set a fire in hopes of killing his brother.
Police found Zachary nearby with a notebook containing a written confession to his crimes.
The defense said Zachary was a victim, as he lost his father to Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2007.
“Any one person that encountered Zack – teachers, neighbors, immediate family – knew ‘something’ was deeply wrong. His school knew. His mother knew. But nothing was done,” his attorney Randy Lucas said.
“Now, transferred to the adult criminal justice system, he will get nothing in the way of rehabilitation, medication, or counseling.”
He faces charges of first degree murder, criminal attempt to commit first degree murder and aggravated arson.
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