A Westmoreland County judge has ruled that a New Stanton teenager will be tried as an adult for the execution-style killings of his mother and younger brother in their home two years ago.
The Tribune-Review reports that 16-year-old Jacob Remaley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of his mother Dana and 8-yea-rold brother Caleb in late November of 2016. Remaley’s attorneys claim that he suffers from a mental illness and was under the influence of a dominant personality, and that combined with his age should have had the case transferred to juvenile court, where the maximum punishment would not go beyond his 21st birthday. Judge Christopher Feliciani said that the mental illness is not likely to be adequately treated in the juvenile court system during the years that remain until he reaches adulthood.
A trial date has not been set as of yet.
