WHY??? Precious 10-year-old girl murdered by 15-year-old son of her father’s girlfriend: Police

The teenager may be tried as an adult

A 15-year-old boy has been charged in last month’s murder of 10-year-old YouTube performer Kiava Campbell, according to CBS Denver.

Zellmer was arrested on June 10, just two days after the 10-year-old’s body was found in a Denver field. Now he is formally facing two first degree murder charges.

Zellmer and Campbell’s parents were dating, according to authorities.

As Crime Online previously reported, Campbell disappeared near a Thornton, Colorado, shopping center shortly after leaving her father’s home with Zellmer. The girl’s body was discovered in a grassy area about a mile from their home the following day on June 8.

At the time, the 15-year-old told authorities that they became separated during a rainstorm. However, neighbors contradicted that a storm occurred on the night in question, according to The Denver Post.

Investigators and prosecutors have not yet shared many specifics of the crime, in part because both the victim and the suspect are juveniles, reports Denver7.

Zellmer is charged with first-degree murder with intent to kill after deliberation and first-degree murder of a child under the age of 12 by someone in a position of trust. Adams County District Attorney Dave Young revealed plans to prosecute the boy as an adult, though that decision rests with a judge.

Zellmer’s lawyer, Jessica Meza, was granted a four-month delay to allow time to prepare her case. The October 30 preliminary hearing will determine whether there’s enough evidence to warrant a trial. Another hearing, which will occur at the same time, will decide if the teen will be tried as a juvenile or adult.

“Considering he is only 15 and is facing life in prison we need to be prepared,” Meza told the paper. “This is an ongoing investigation. We need the testimony from various experts. It’s going to be a lengthy hearing.”

[Featured Image: YouTube/screenshot/CBS Denver]