Teen charged with murder for Colorado 10-year-old's death
A 15-year-old boy was charged Wednesday with killing a 10-year-old girl, and authorities said he could be tried as an adult.
Adams County District Attorney Dave Young said after a closed hearing that the boy was charged with first-degree murder with intent to kill after deliberation, and first-degree murder of a child under 12 by someone in a position of trust.
Young said he intends to prosecute the boy, who is accused of killing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell, as an adult.
A 15-year-old boy was charged Wednesday with killing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell (left and right), and authorities said he could be tried as an adult
The 10-year-old was found in this area about a mile from her home in Thornton, Colorado, on June 8 just hours after she went missing. Police are pictured at the scene
Kiaya was found dead June 8 after her family reported her missing the previous night.
The boy, who has not been identified because he is a minor, was arrested late on Saturday night by Thornton Police after Kiaya's body was found in a grassy park area the night she went missing.
At the time of the boy's arrest, police released a statement confirming that the teen had been 'booked and transported to the Adams County Juvenile Detention facility', according to KDVR.
Kiaya's father told police his daughter left home with his girlfriend’s 15-year-old son to walk to a nearby shopping center.
The 15-year-old told police he lost Kiaya after they got separated when a rainstorm swept through the town, which is about 10 miles north of Denver.
The 10-year-old's body was later found about a mile from her home. Neighbors told 9News they do not remember it raining on Wednesday night.
Brooklyn Mitchell, 7 and her brother Ethan (both sitting on the wall), 9, joined hundreds in searching for Kiaya after she went missing
Kiaya's (pictured) mother, Chantel Campbell, created a GoFundMe account to raise money for a memorial. It set a goal of $10,000, which it has surpassed. As of Wednesday night, more than $16,000 had been donated
A cause of death has not been determined, however the coroner stated it was, 'other than accidental'.
Kiaya was an avid YouTuber, frequently posting videos to her account that racked up thousands of views.
KDVR reports neighbors and those who knew the 10-year-old described her as a happy, loving, young girl.
Her mother, Chantel Campbell, created a GoFundMe account to raise money for a memorial.
'This beautiful soul was stolen from us. We appreciate everything everyone has done in this situation. Now we just appreciate anything anyone can do to help out her to rest,' the page read.
It set a goal of $10,000, which it has surpassed. As of Wednesday night, more than $16,000 had been donated.