Teen charged with murder
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/051101/teen.shtml
Demetrick Young, 15, with Moulton police officer Coy Terry, was charged Monday with capital murder in the beating death of Hatton Elementary teacher Judy Jester. DAILY Photo by Clyde Stancil
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005
By Deangelo McDaniel
DAILY Staff Writer
MOULTON — The Lawrence County student who found the beaten body of Judy Jester said he had to do the right thing when he made friends take him to the old Moulton High School cafeteria.
"If I were up there, I would want somebody to come and get me," said C.J. Carlisle, a senior at Lawrence County High School.
He found Jester between three and four hours after Demetrick Young allegedly beat her unconscious for less than $10, authorities said.
Authorities charged Young, 15, on Monday with capital murder.
Jester, 55, a first-grade Hatton Elementary teacher, died Sunday just after 2 p.m. at Huntsville Hospital.
She had been in the neuro-intensive care unit since Wednesday when Young allegedly beat her during a robbery. He reportedly used no weapon. Young stayed near the crime scene, talking with friends for at least an hour before he walked home about 300 yards away.
Carlisle, who resides less than 200 yards from the crime scene, said the same friends told him what Young had done, as they returned from a local restaurant at about 8 p.m.
"They said he (Young) told them what he had done," Carlisle said. "I made them take me up there. I had to do what was right."
He said Young's friends told him that Young said he had beaten Jester and had taken money from her.
Carlisle said the room was "a mess" when he walked in. He said he found Jester's body in the kitchen part of the cafeteria.
"I turned her over and put water on her face," Carlisle said. "I could tell she was in trouble."
Carlisle said he left the cafeteria, got the friend's cell phone and called 911.
"I didn't know what to do, but I knew she needed help," he said. "She was laid out, but she was still alive."
Police questioned and released Carlisle on Thursday night.
Authorities also questioned Young on Thursday night and charged him with first-degree robbery and third-degree burglary. Following a juvenile hearing Friday, they added attempted murder to the charges.
On Monday, investigators filed a petition charging Young with capital murder.
Lawrence County District Attorney Jim Osborn could not talk about the case, but he said the state can prosecute juveniles under 16 for capital murder.
Death penalty barred
The U.S. Supreme Court in March made it illegal to execute juveniles under the age of 18 at the time of their crime.
If a jury convicts a juvenile of capital murder, the judge can sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A murder conviction carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Moulton Police Chief Lyndon McWhorter said he will ask the district attorney to start proceedings to have Young certified to stand trial as an adult.
The chief said the investigation is ongoing, but added that he has no evidence that anyone else was involved in the crime.
Authorities are holding Young, a student at Lawrence County High School, in the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center in Tuscumbia.
Wednesday attack
Investigators said they believe that he attacked Jester between 4 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday as the victim worked at the Lawrence County Family Education Campus on Rosenwald Street in Moulton.
The Sheriff's Department and Alabama Bureau of Investigation are assisting Moulton with the investigation.
Authorities would not say when Young first told someone about his alleged actions.
Jester never regained consciousness. Doctors told her son, Chris Nichols, that her brain was without oxygen too long.
The hospital placed her on life support after she suffered a stroke Saturday. With no chance of recovery, Jester's family gave doctors permission Sunday to remove life support.
Memorial on Thursday
Superintendent Dexter Rutherford said the school system will hold a memorial service Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Hatton High football stadium.
At Hatton Elementary, teachers and students have placed a memorial bulletin board outside Jester's room.
"There's also an area in the commons of the school where students and teachers can lay cards," Rutherford said. "We're going to give all this to the family."
Rutherford met Sunday with the Hatton Elementary faculty.
"I told them that if they could come Monday for the students to do so," the superintendent said.
Counselors available
He had counselors and substitute teachers available for the faculty and students.
"The teachers have been the best source of encouragement for the students, but this is tough for all of us," Rutherford said. "This is not going to pass in a short time, and we're going to continue to monitor the situation."
Rutherford said it will be difficult for the school system to increase security at all its school sites.
"We are just encouraging people to make sure they are not alone," he said. "We've got so many buildings that we're telling our employees to be more aware, even in the daylight."
Rutherford said counselors and ministers will remain at Hatton Elementary "for as long as our students and teachers need them."
