MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (AP) – Officials say a 12-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the death of an 84-year-old Tennessee woman.
Multiple news outlets report that Johnson County Sheriff Mike Reece made the announcement Tuesday.
Deputies say Teruko Shaw was reported missing on December 6, 2015 and was found dead later that day near her Butler home.
“She had blunt force trauma to the face and upper chest area,” Reece said. “She also had laceration to her left neck where she bled out. That’s what killed her.”
Investigators found a set of shears next to her body and puncture marks in her neck.
The boy, who was 11 years old at the time of the slaying, was named a suspect in the case.
Reece says the child knew Shaw and they lived near each other.
“This is something that’s never happened in Johnson County,” said Sheriff Reece. “[You] just don’t see this too much. It’s sad for both sides.”
The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, has been charged with felony murder, especially aggravated burglary and theft of property.
Reece says the child was in custody in another state and is awaiting extradition back to Tennessee. He will appear before a judge in juvenile court this week for an arraignment hearing, according to KRON4’s Media General affiliate station WJHL.
Sheriff Reece says the boy’s family is being very cooperative.