California boy, 14, charged with murder in 13-year-old sister's killing
SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ A 14-year-old Rocklin boy has been charged with murder in the traumatic death of his 13-year-old sister, the daughter of a high-ranking prosecutor in Placer County.
Ashley Wood, 13, died of an apparent assault causing blunt-force injuries at her family's home in Rocklin, northeast of Sacramento, on July 19, police said.
The state attorney general's office confirmed this week that it filed a single count of murder Thursday against her older brother. A spokeswoman said he denied the allegation in a closed hearing in Placer County Juvenile Court.
Brenda Gonzalez, the spokeswoman, said that Harris' office also filed legal motions to ask a judge to determine whether the older brother is unfit for the juvenile justice system and should be tried as an adult. A hearing is set for Sept. 9.
The brother isn't being identified by The Sacramento Bee because he remains charged as a juvenile.
Last Thursday, the Placer County District Attorney's Office said it was unable to handle the case because the father of the children, Jeff Wood, is a supervising deputy district attorney with the office. The case was referred to the state attorney general.
Officers found Ashley Wood dead in her bedroom in the family's large home in a new subdivision Tuesday morning after receiving several calls reporting a disturbance. Police declined to describe the weapon or object that caused the girl's fatal injuries.
The girl's mother found her body, officers said. A neighbor told the Bee she heard a woman screaming for help the morning of July 19 and called 911.
The boy fled the home and was later found in a field about a mile away, police said. He was taken to the Placer County Probation Juvenile Detention Facility in Auburn.
_The Sacramento Bee
