Fall City teen’s fate nears decision as court weighs adult or juvenile trial in family killings case

Closing arguments were heard Thursday at the hearing to determine whether the Fall City teen accused of killing five members of his family in 2024 will be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

The boy was 15 years old at the time of the killings.

Prosecutor Jason Brookhyser argued that the case should move to adult court.

“It is absolutely necessary because if this case remains here in juvenile court, there is no chance of [the boy] being given an appropriate sentence,” Brookhyser argued. “There is no chance of [the boy] being given appropriate supervision for the treatment that he so clearly needs.”

Fall City killings: Investigators say teen staged scene to blame dead brother

Police said the then-15-year-old suspect’s 11-year-old sister was shot in the neck and played dead until he left the room. She ultimately fled to a neighbor’s house for help.

Investigators said the teen killed the family, then staged the scene to make it look like his dead brother did it, took a shower, changed his clothes, and called 911, according to KIRO 7.

“The sophistication that he showed in his conduct during this incident makes it clear he needs significant long-term treatment and supervision,” Brookhyser said.

The surviving sibling told police the account blaming her dead brother wasn’t true, naming her 15-year-old brother as the shooter.

The suspect was just two weeks away from his 16th birthday at the time of the murders, according to police.

He was charged with five counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO).

Defense experts testify about family library, teen’s mental health

“This boy deserves a chance,” defense attorney Amy Parker said during her closing arguments. “He deserves hope, and the only way he’s going to get that is if he can stay in the juvenile system, where he absolutely belongs.”

Parker refuted the prosecution’s argument that the boy showed “sophistication” in committing the alleged murders.

“There is nothing whatsoever mature, sophisticated about this offense,” she said. “The state talks about how, well, he tried to cover it up. Think about how this child was punished.”

The defense called several experts during the hearing who described dozens of religious books found in the family’s library, according to KIRO 7. Many of the books were about parenting and how to get kids to be obedient.

A forensic child psychiatrist told the court the teen’s mental health had deteriorated rapidly in the lead-up to the attack.

If the teen is tried as a minor, he could be released by age 25. If he is tried and convicted as an adult, he faces a minimum of 25 years.

The judge will decide Oct. 14 whether to move the trial to adult court or keep it in juvenile court.

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