Ala. boy charged in hanging death of his half-sister

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

AP / CBS

(CBS/AP) RAGLAND, Ala. - A 9-year-old girl was found hanging on a rope from a tree Thursday night outside her home and authorities say her 14-year-old half-brother has been charged with her murder.

The body of Katelynn Arnold was discovered outside her home in Ragland, a rural town about 40 miles northeast of Birmingham. According to the St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell, Arnold died of strangulation.

Neighbors told WBRC-TV the rope used to be part of a tire swing

There were no more details immediately available.

Ragland Elementary School planned to have grief counselors available Friday for classmates of the girl.

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by AMH2730 May 12, 2012 1:11 AM EDT: It seems weird as hell to me. I find it hard to believe that a 14-year-old could have pulled this off. Maybe if she was a todler or something...I am curious to see how this one plays out.; Reply to this comment

by FormerUSMCSergeant May 11, 2012 10:00 PM EDT

Some real fine parenting going on there....

The grandparents must be real proud.

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by TeachEx May 13, 2012 9:49 PM EDT: There were no parents! The children were in foster care and the "grandfather" stated that 'mom" was dealing with "issues." Probably meth!! Both kids probably been through hell. No excuse! First bootcamp granny runs a child to death and now this! Both "mothers" had abandoned these kids and we hear nothing about dad! I've never, ever believed in abortion. I think it is murder and it always will be. But these kids were murdered most likely after years of abuse...maybe I'm wrong!


by XscenegirlX May 11, 2012 9:42 PM EDT: omg i cant belived thi had happen ! pshh someone needs to talk to that little boy! gosh if he hated her than why dont he just live with someone else or something !-.-; Reply to this comment

by unclebernies May 11, 2012 7:26 PM EDT

This little piece of garbage needs to go to real prison. He isn't going to get any better.

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by TeachEx May 13, 2012 9:53 PM EDT: No! He's not!! He's a young Charles Manson and I don't know when people are going to wake up and realize this. Whether he was born this way or his environment made him that way...I don't know...but he is a danger to society. We can't take kids from useless parents. We can't stop them from reproducing. Then when they create monsters the same people who don't want us "imposing on their human rights" won't let us lock them away so they can't hurt anyone! And I'm not talking about punishment..that's beside the point! I just want the little monster locked away (boot camp granny too) so they can't hurt anyone else!


by su3385 May 11, 2012 5:00 PM EDT: That is just sooo sad. Even sadder is that at 14 if he is not charged as an adult he will be free to kill in a few years.; Reply to this comment

by Lerianis4 May 11, 2012 4:03 PM EDT

What the hell? Why would he hang his younger sister? Reject his sexual advances or something?

That is the only thing I can come up with that would explain this.

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by wlhoppers May 11, 2012 6:32 PM EDT: Or else he has a raging temper. Could be she provoked him once too often.

No matter what the cause, it appears to be a deliberate murder.


by AMH2730 May 12, 2012 1:10 AM EDT: Riiighht...Killed any of YOUR little sisters lately Lerianis?


by Lilac_Lady May 12, 2012 7:43 AM EDT: That was what I thought. Half sister, predominantly Black neighborhood, male attacker, girl victim. If it was not sexual, then it was simply a lack of bonding and pure hatred.


by Phyl12 May 12, 2012 9:39 AM EDT: Provoked him? She was 9.