HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn.- A juvenile judge has decided that a 15-year-old charged with killing his mother will be tried as an adult.
On Tuesday, a Sumner County Juvenile Court Judge showed little sympathy to Zachary Davis, saying it's clear the teen has significant emotional and mental problems. He determined that there was nothing juvenile court could do for Davis after hearing some of the gruesome details of how police said he murdered his own mother.
"It was a horrific murder and judge made the observation that it was a savage murder and that Zachary Davis could not be handled in the juvenile court and should go over to criminal court," said Sumner County District Attorney, Ray Whitley.
According to an affidavit obtained by News Channel 5 Davis used a sledge hammer to attack and kill his mother Melanie Davis while she was sleeping. He then locked the door behind him, set the house on fire while his older brother was asleep. When police caught up with him later they said he had a notebook with a letter in it, confessing to the murder.
Davis was charged with first degree murder as well as a criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder and aggravated arson. After the incident he was taken to a juvenile holding facility where he has been awaiting trial.
