In a solemn courtroom proceeding on Friday, a 15-year-old, whose identity remains confidential due to his status as a minor, was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for the capital murder of his 6-year-old cousin. The ruling was delivered by 323rd District Judge Alex Kim.
The incident took place on August 18, 2021, when the now-15-year-old was just 12 years old. In a horrifying act of violence, he used a baseball bat to bash his 6-year-old cousin's head outside her home in River Oaks. Police received a distress call about an injured individual that evening and rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts to administer medical aid to the young girl, she succumbed to her injuries. She was subsequently transported to a Fort Worth hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
During the court proceedings, the teenage defendant admitted to the crime and asked the judge to determine his sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Tarrant County Assistant District Attorneys Lee Sorrells and Jessica Theriot.
The investigation into this incident also involved the dedicated efforts of DA Investigators Esther Goodwin, Benjamin Lopez, and Jose Fonseca.
The River Oaks Police Department was also commended for its unwavering commitment to the community's safety and its role in handling the case by Phil Sorrels, Tarrant County District Attorney.
