8-Year-Old Accused Of Dad's Slay In Court
Police Say Ariz. Boy Confessed To Shooting Deaths Of Father And His Co-Worker
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Vincent Romero, 29, was found shot to death along with a co-worker who rented a room in his house. Romero's 8-year-old son has confessed to the killings. (AP)
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The Very Rev. John Paul Sauter is photographed on Saturday Nov. 8, 2008 in St. Johns, Ariz.. The Roman Catholic priest who presided over the wedding of Vincent Romero, 29, who police say was fatally shot by his 8-year-old son said Saturday that the man and his wife had consulted him about whether the boy should have a gun. (AP Photo/Dana Felthauser)
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This photograph taken Nov. 8, 2008 shows the house where Vincent Romero, 29, and Timothy Romans, 39, of San Carlos, Ariz were found fatally shot in St. Johns, Ariz. on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Dana Felthauser)
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Now his 8-year-old boy is due in court on two counts of premeditated murder.
Police say the boy confessed to planning and carrying out the shooting deaths of Romero, 29, and co-worker Timothy Romans, 39, who rented a room from him. The men were found shot to death inside Romero's home in the small eastern Arizona community northeast of Phoenix last week.
Police and neighbors are at a loss to explain why he would have used a .22-caliber rifle to kill his father and another man at their home.
"That child, I don't think he knows what he did, and it was brutal," said the family priest, the Very Rev. John Paul Sauter.
The third-grader is due in court Monday, the same day as a funeral Mass scheduled to be held for his dad at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
In a sign of the emotional and legal complexities of the case, police are pushing to have the boy tried as an adult even as they investigate possible abuse, St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said. If convicted as a minor, the boy could be sent to juvenile detention until he turns 18.
But former prosecutor Wendy Murphy said that there is not enough evidence known yet to tell whether this murder fits that profile.
"It's an incredibly unusual case," Murphy told Early Show anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "We hear about 8-year-olds accidentally shooting a gun. This was execution style. So I think it's fair to say there was something pretty awful going on behind closed doors. Police have already talked about the investigation of this child being an abuse victim. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that this child was suffering terribly horrible things behind closed doors."
St. Johns police are hoping a judge will agree to try the boy as an adult but admit it's unlikely.
"There is no physical evidence that has been analyzed to link him to anything," the boy's defense attorney, Benjamin Brewer, told CBS News.
Brewer also said police questioned his client without representation from a parent or attorney and didn't advise the child of his rights.
"In Arizona you can be prosecuted in adult court at age 8. That's not true in most other states," said Murphy on The Early Show. "I think if it comes out this child was being abused, that he was desperate, this was his only way of defending himself against some terrible things there happening, you don't see a lot of public sympathy for keeping him in the juvenile justice system."
The boy had no record of complaints with Arizona Child Protective Services, said Apache County Attorney Brad Carlyon.
"He had no record of any kind, not even a disciplinary record at school," he said. "He has never been in trouble before."
Romero was from a family of avid hunters and wanted to make sure the boy wasn't afraid of guns and knew how to handle them, Sauter said. The boy's stepmother had suggested he have a BB gun, the priest said.
It's not unusual in a state like many around the West with liberal gun laws for children to learn early how to shoot small animals in the company of their fathers. But it might have been too much for an 8-year-old, Sauter said Saturday.
Murphy said encouraging an 8-year-old having a gun was "part of the recipe for disaster.
"But I don't think that's enough of an explanation, not nearly enough. He was 8. I mean, that's barely old enough as a matter of law to be held accountable. I don't think that's going to be the only explanation."
The boy's reported confession is also being examined.
How much truth can be imparted on such a statement from a child? Rodriguez asked.
"What's interesting about 8-year-olds is that we think they fantasize, they believe in, you know, Power Rangers and things like that, but they tend to be real credible when it comes to courtroom testimony and providing information to the police for the simple reason that, at 8 years old, they're not very good liars."
A Tragic Loss In A Tight-Knit Community
People in this small community are reeling from the killing of Romero, and they will likely turn out in droves for his funeral.
"I don't think this church is big enough to handle it all," said Sauter.
"The recent tragedy in our community has been very sad, an incident that makes us ask 'Why?' yet pulls our citizens together with love and support," said Ross Overson, mayor of the town in eastern Arizona. "Without exception, the entire community has been affected by this tragic loss. No community can begin to understand how something like this could happen."
Ask anyone here, and chances are they know a member of the Romero family.
"Everybody knows them because there's like 100 of them," said Marybeth Ellsworth, who played the piano at Romero's wedding in September. "They're very well-liked in the community."
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 116 CommentsAnd the use of a gun was appropriate in this case...
I think that is not true in most civilized nations. I dunno, let''s try an 8-year old as an adult and see if anyone compares it to stoning a 13-year for adultry...
Arizona -- Home of John McCain, `nuff said.
Posted by crystalblue3 at 08:52 AM : Nov 10, 2008
Two weeks ago, some idiot let his kid fire an Uzi on full-auto. It kicked up and blew the kid''s head off. Maybe this is Karma.
Regards,
And the use of a gun was appropriate in this case...
Posted by slim1h2o at 08:38 AM : Nov 10, 2008
If this goes to an Adult Court, you can bet your last dollar that the defense attorneys will push that angle, whether true or not, slathered with a lot of insinuation of homosexual activity hoping to get jury nullification.
In juvenile court, the truth is more likely to come out. There''s no percentage in trashing the victim when you are before the judge.
Posted by Evian_Ycnan at 09:14 AM : Nov 10, 2008
Sadly you are right. In todays Justice system, all parties'' sling mud at each other and hopes the jury favors their side, or who deems themselves more credible, instead of getting at the truth. That''s why our Justice system has broken down.
No matter what happened in this situation, the kid should be tried in Juvenile court. He''s just too young for Adult court in my estimation.
Posted by usmc1968 at 09:17 AM : Nov 10, 2008
One of the most logical post I''ve ever read.
1) ... since even juvenile detention centers are not equipped to deal with someone as young as 8 years old. -- Posted by nolalou at 09:36 AM : Nov 10, 2008
And still, the law allows an 8-year old to be tried as an adult even if the juvenile centers can handle them... Hmmm... Arizona is bizarre.
2) Can see the "Peta nut cases" are out in force today, animal murderers... Posted by usmc1968 at 09:24 AM : Nov 10, 2
One post is "out in force"? Dood, you need to recalibrate your threat meter. Next you`ll be posting about black helicopters and tinfoil hats...
"He had no record of any kind, not even a disciplinary record at school," he said. "He has never been in trouble before."
i am a former victim of abuse and NEVER said a word for fear of death to my family....so we dont know what may have happened in that house behind closed doors. Of course in the same breath nothing may have happened and it will have to play itself out in court to find out the truth. I can only speak for what happened to me and it was never reported and i was an honors student so grades in school and reported abuse doesnt mean a thing. and 8 years old is such a young age yet they SHOULD know right from wrong...this is a tragedy.
morons...
Posted by violist47 at 11:11 AM : Nov 10, 2008
if he is guilty and there was no abuse, what kind of help? Are you suggesting he should be let out inot the population when he is 18 or 21? How is that fair to those of us who follow the laws? It would put innocent people in danger, and why should we have to sacrifice our safety to benifit this kid?
If there was abuse or his mom contributed to this crime then that is different, but if the kid got angry about something and decided to kill his father he should never be aloowed inot society again.
morons... Posted by karl_in_az at 10:42 AM : Nov 10, 2008
Thank you, it`s not that often that the morons posting provide solid examples to accompany their hypotheses -- point noted.
Another thing that I''m wondering, do the Miranda Rights exist in Arizona? It has been stated that the child''s rights were not explained and he was not represented by an attorney &/or parent. Isn''t this illegal???? They talk about trying the kid as an adult yet they didn''t treat the child as an adult.
Moron.
The 8 yr does need extensive help not punishment. His parents may have done enough of that.
First off, MLK is recognized in Arizona, and has been for many years.
Secondly, I believe what you mean to say is that people in the south should be SPAYED and neutered. A spade, is a shovel or a suit in a deck of cards.
Here''s hoping you have no offspring of your own to whom you will impart your particular brand of "wisdom" regarding other states and/or the people who live within them.
Wrong! This is irresponsible conjecture from someone who should not be in a position to make this comment.
Just because a kid has a gun and knows how to use it doesn''t mean he was abused. We need the facts in an open trial to determine the what and why.
The right to trial by an impartial jury extends to everyone accused of a crime.
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