GUILTY UT - Kailey Vijil, 12, found strangled, West Valley City, 17 July 2015

[JusticeWillBeServed]

State officials get more time to work on competency issues with teen accused in killing of 12-year-old girl

http://www.sltrib.com/home/5505431-155/state-officials-get-more-time-to

At a review hearing Thursday, attorneys reported that while the teen boy is gaining a better factual understanding, there are still some issues with his "rational" understanding. Third District Juvenile Court Judge James Michie allowed for another 30 days of treatment before a final evaluation is done, but warned attorneys that he did not want any further delays.

Prosecutors have said they want the boy to face the charges in adult court. Michie can't rule on that, however, until the boy is competent and another hearing is held where the judge will assess the case evidence and consider the severity of the alleged crimes, community safety, the teen's psychological records, family history and rehabilitation needs.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Judge: Teen accused of raping, killing 12-year-old competent to proceed

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900004218/judge-teen-accused-of-raping-killing-12-year-old-competent-to-proceed.html

Though the boy suffers from more than one mental disorder and intellectual disability, 3rd District Juvenile Judge James Michie ruled that "despite these limitations," months of work have prepared the boy to work with his attorneys, comprehend the allegations against him and understand the consequences that could follow.

Michie explained to the teen Friday that he will next face a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors will present evidence about the allegations and the judge will determine whether to advance the case to trial.

A hearing to schedule that proceeding — and possibly a retention hearing where prosecutors would seek to move the case to the adult system — is set for Dec. 5.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Teen charged with raping, killing girl when 15 strikes a plea deal

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900005542/teen-charged-with-raping-killing-girl-when-15-strikes-a-plea-deal.html

Jayden Matthew Sterzer, who turned 18 last month, admitted in juvenile court Monday to raping 12-year-old Kailey Vijil in the summer of 2015. He is expected to be ordered to serve time in secure care at a Jan. 19 sentencing hearing.

As part of the deal with prosecutors, the aggravated murder charge was reduced to murder, a first-degree felony, and was transferred to the adult system. An additional charge of sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony, was also filed in 3rd District Court.

Sterzer is expected to plead guilty to the charges at 4 p.m. Monday, but won't be sentenced in the adult system until after he serves time in a secure juvenile facility. He could potentially remain in secure care until age 21.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/12/11/utah-teen-accused-of-killing-12-year-old-neighbor-girl-resolving-case-with-blended-sentence/

For Vijil’s family, the boy’s admissions were a relief.

“It’s been an unbearable 2 1/2 years that they’ve had to go through,” said victim attorney Spencer Banks. “… [The plea deal] assures he will be in custody for an extremely long time, and that’s where they take the most comfort.”

It is expected that Sterzer will spend the next three years in a juvenile facility, until he turns 21 years old. At that time, he will be sentenced in the adult court to a mandatory prison term of at least 15 years — and possibly up to life — behind bars.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Father of murdered daughter calls killer a 'monster'

Jayden Sterzer asked for forgiveness from the family of a 12-year-old girl he murdered.

But Kailey Vijil's family was not in a forgiving mood during the 18-year-old's sentencing hearing in juvenile court.

Friday, Sterzer was sentenced in juvenile court to detention. His time there will be determined by the youth parole board. By law he can remain there until he turns 21-years old. Once he completes his sentence he will return to an adult court for sentencing. He faces 15-years-to-life for the first degree murder.

'Evil came knocking on my door' father says of teen who raped, killed 12-year-old girl

"I didn't know evil could come so young," Orlando Vijil said of the boy who killed his daughter. "But evil came knocking on my door that night."

Yet Kailey, who loved animals and offered food to the homeless, was beautiful, generous and "truthful in all things," the father said.

"I don't think this pain will ever go away, I miss her so much," Vijil said. "There are a lot of days that I can't function or get through the day."

Kailey's older sister, Taylor Vijil, wept as she described the plans her sister had to travel to Japan, attend college and study science. Now, she said, those dreams will never happen "because someone had to take her life away, even though she was nice."

Kailey's mother, De Shaun Undergust, said that more than two years later, she still aches daily over the loss of her daughter. She asked that Sterzer never be released into the community again.

"I hope he never gets out to do this to another family, to destroy another family," she said.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sterzer pleaded guilty to rape and murder charges after receiving court-ordered treatment for unspecified mental disorders and intellectual disabilities. He was ordered to a secure juvenile facility, where he'll serve time until he turns 21. His plea agreement with prosecutors calls for him to then be sentenced to adult prison.

Now 18, Sterzer didn't speak at the sentencing but apologized to the family in a letter read by his attorney, saying he thinks about the pain he caused every day and wishes he could go back in time and undo it.

The Associated Press typically does not name juveniles who are accused of crimes, but Sterzer's plea deal considered him an adult.

https://idahostatejournal.com/news/...cle_6692dbea-8596-5b6e-95fb-b2dfc6d682ee.html