12 year-old Brother arrested in fatal Calif. stabbing of 8-year-old girl

[Douglas Carpenter]

Source: AP via salon.com

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say they have arrested the brother of an 8-year-old girl who was mysteriously stabbed at her home in a quiet Northern California community last month.

Calaveras County Sheriff Gary Kuntz told reporters at a news conference that the arrest was made late Saturday afternoon. He says the 12-year-old boy will be charged with homicide.

The boy had told police last month that he encountered an intruder in the home on the day Leila Fowler was killed. He described the man as being tall with long gray hair.

The April 27 attack shook the tightknit Valley Springs community of about 7,400 people and set off a massive manhunt. Investigators did a door-to-door sweep of houses, storage sheds and horse stables


Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/05/12/brother_arrested_in_fatal_calif_stabbing_of_girl/

[Nanjing to Seoul]

1. Cue gundamentalists screaming for knife control in 5. . .4. . .3. . .2. . .

[baldguy]

4. If only he'd have used a gun - then it would've been "an unfortunate accident".

[LisaL]

6. I was just thinking the same thing.

I wonder how many of these "unfortunate accidents" with guns are actually murders?

[tblue]

12. That doesn't work enough of the time

so they made Stand Your Ground laws.

[Mr. X]

9. Was about to say the same thing

That if the sister died of a 'mysterious' gunshot, the kid would have gotten off free.

[freshwest]

15. Sadly, I thought the same thing. And actually expected that a gun fan had posted this.

Certainly appeared to be old enough to know better. A case of sibling jealousy, maybe incest and a killling to cover it up?

At any rate, the worst appears to have happened that cannot be changed now. There was a case up here where the kid lied to the police, too.

He killed his parents and told the police something or the other. But his downfall was the security cameras his family had installed. Something was going on in that family. Likely in this one, too.

[dimbear]

2. Truly a disturbing case. Strange things happen in Calaveras county, and have

apparently for a long time, hence the name which means "skulls."

[alp227]

3. WTF? So shocking. So sad. HOW could a 12 year old DO this?

My gosh. I don't think I at age 12 would be twisted enough to stab another person. Here's a family who's going to have not only to bury a child but write a child in prison.

[tularetom]

5. Can't exactly say why but I thought that kid's story sounded hinky right from the start

[hopemountain]

10. yes, his story was on my hinky meter, too n/t

[Sunlei]

7. how sad, the police probably suspected the child.

I hope the courts have mercy on the child, he has supportive parents and can rehab. him through this.

[nomorenomore08]

14. While I don't support charging a 12-year-old as an adult - let alone imprisoning him for life -

this kid is going to need intensive psychiatric help, to say the least, in the hope that he won't be a danger to others as an adult. But the fact that he murdered someone at such a young age doesn't bode well (massive understatement). Even if he's released at say, 21, he'll still likely be a concern.

[man4allcats]

17. Rhoda on her way to rendezvous with a lightning bolt

Last edited Sun May 12, 2013, 11:28 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm afraid there's nothing for it. If God there be, then She/He/It will get this kid - one way or another:

- Edited for "some antics" -

[XemaSab]

8. OMG, really?

[JI7]

11. i was thinking this might be the case, especially when they said she was targeted

and the fact they never gave a description of the person who the boy claimed stabbed her .

[Rhiannon12866]

13. That likelihood certainly crossed my mind, too, tragic story.

[obama2terms]

16. How does this happen!?

It's scary to think what this child had going through his head at the time as a 12 year old! Poor little girl

[NoodleyAppendage]

18. Who couldn't see this coming?

I suspected the 12 yr old brother from the start. Most sociopaths make their first kills (albeit generally animals) around their pre-teens.