A young teen charged with raping and murdering a 3-year-old girl apparently sobbed and made "steadfast denials" to police, according to court documents that describe the boy's interrogation.
Documents filed by the boy's lawyer say the 14-year-old was questioned improperly by a Hamilton County detective and did not understand what he was doing when he signed a waiver of his rights.
He also had no idea he was about to be charged with two very serious crimes, documents state.
"The Defendant was clearly under stress of the death of his 'sister' and had not taken his medication for his diagnosed condition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," writes defense attorney Justin Woodward, who represents the teen. Mr. Woodward is seeking to suppress the boy's discussion with the detective and any other evidence seized during searches in the aftermath of the girl's death.
Thursday's hearing began with Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Suzanne Bailey agreeing to allow the courtroom to be open to the media, something that is not allowed under state law except when defendants are at least 14 and are alleged to have committed certain "aggravated" crimes such as rape and murder.
During the hearing, the defendant sat quietly next to Mr. Woodward in an orange jumpsuit and shackles while his mother sat two rows behind him.
Judge Bailey's open courtroom ruling means a hearing June 18 also will be open to the media. More evidence of the crime and the boy's interrogation are expected to come to light at that hearing.
Prosecutors will argue at the hearing that the circumstances of the crime make it imperative that the boy be transferred to regular criminal court and be tried as an adult. Charged with felony murder by aggravated rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child, the teen could face life in prison if convicted outside the special protections of the juvenile justice system.
It is the policy of the Times Free Press not to identify minors charged with crimes unless they are tried as adults.
For now, little is known about the events leading up to the girl's death except her mother's admission to the Chattanooga Times Free Press that she gave her daughter to the defendant's mother, Constance Lavoie-Hammer, of Georgetown, Tenn., because she thought she couldn't take care of the little girl on her own.
Authorities say the girl was living with Ms. Lavoie-Hammer and the defendant at the time she died.
The defendant's MySpace page, accessed April 28 by the Times Free Press, indicates he last logged into his account April 22, a day before authorities arrested him. His profile read, "What now, just don't know anymore" and described his residence as a "crack house near u."
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