Teen boy, 14, allegedly rapes & beats elderly neighbor to death shortly after getting GPS monitor removed for ‘good behavior’: Report

A 14-year-old Maryland boy was charged as an adult in last month’s brutal rape and assault of an 83-year-old woman who died from her injuries a short time later.

Per The Baltimore Sun, police found Dorothy Mae Neal unresponsive in her apartment on August 29 after a concerned neighbor requested a welfare check. Neal died in the hospital the next day; an autopsy determined she died from blunt force trauma and revealed she was sexually assaulted

Police spokesman T.J. Smith told reporters Friday that Tyrone Harvin might’ve been among the group of neighbors who cared for Neal, noting that the teen lived on the same street. According to USA Today, Smith said physical evidence linked Harvin to the slaying.

Harvin—who turned 14 last month—was charged with first-degree murder, rape, and other sex and assault offenses. Meanwhile, the teen’s brother told WBAL that Harvin and a friend were walking past Neal’s residence when they heard screaming.

“He was walking to the store. He said he heard somebody screaming. He came here and told my mother that the lady was screaming, and he has witnesses—his homeboy that he was with said that Tyrone never went into anybody’s house. He went to his mother’s house,” he told the news station.

READ More: 14-year-old boy rapes and murders 83-year-old neighbor in her home: Police

The brother also revealed that Harvin had been in some legal trouble and, shortly before Neal’s murder, had gotten his GPS-monitoring device removed for good behavior.

Noting the difficulty in obtaining juvenile records, WBAL claimed to have obtained a December 2017 document indicating Harvin was charged with armed robbery and assault in adult court. The case was moved to juvenile court and he was prosecuted. However, The Baltimore Sun cited an armed robbery case where Harvin was mistakenly charged as an adult for allegedly hitting a classmate in the head with rocks and taking his phone. The charges were reportedly dropped.

Even with this information, it’s unclear why the 14-year-old was being monitored up until recently.

A motive is also unknown. Smith said he suspects Harvin might’ve attacked Neal while helping her with a chore. He went on to note there was no sign of forced entry into the apartment, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Harvin is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 19.

[Featured Image: Tyrone Harvin, Dorothy Mae Neal/Baltimore Police Department]