Page 69 of Play Maker

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Page A3 – Local Crime & Courts

Juvenile Remains in Custody Following Double Homicide

By Jolene Franklin, Staff Reporter

MORRISTOWN, AK — The 15-year-old boy arrested in connection with last week’s double homicide in Hollow Creek has been formally charged and will remain in the custody of Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center pending a court hearing later this month.

Due to his age, the boy’s identity remains sealed, and proceedings are being handled in family court under standard protections for minors. The court is also withholding the identity of the younger child who was present during the incident, citing ongoing trauma care and protective custody placement.

According to sources close to the investigation, the accused juvenile is suspected of fatally shooting both Marisol Smith, 35, and Jimmy J. [surname withheld], 39, during what officials continue to describe as a “domestic disturbance turned tragic.”

Law enforcement officials confirm that the firearm used in the incident was registered to Mr. [Surname], and initial forensic evidence supports that multiple rounds were discharged from close range.

“This is an extraordinarily difficult case,” said Assistant District Attorney Carla Westin. “While it’s clear the juvenile was subjected to significant trauma, the facts surrounding the event require careful consideration from the court.”

Rumors have circulated regarding ongoing abuse in the home, though CPS and law enforcement have declined to comment on any prior history involving the family. What is known is that the family had recently relocated to the area and that both boys were enrolled in local schools.

“This is a tragedy for everyone involved,” said Hollow Creek Principal Martha Fenn. “Our staff and students are grieving. We’re working closely with trauma counselors and support services to provide what care we can.”

Legal experts say it is unlikely the juvenile will be tried as an adult, though the final decision may depend on the outcome of psychological evaluations and the court’s assessment of premeditation.

The boy is expected to appear before a family court judge on May 24th for a preliminary review of charges.

No plea has been entered at this time.

And the third paper.

The Morristown Gazette

Friday, August 26th, 2011

Front Page – Local News

Juvenile Cleared in Hollow Creek Case; Investigation Uncovers Long-Buried Family Tragedy

By Jolene Franklin, Staff Reporter

MORRISTOWN, AK — After over three months of investigation, authorities have confirmed that the juvenile previously held in the Hollow Creek double homicide has been fully cleared of all charges. Officials say the boy, age 15, acted in self-defense after witnessing the fatal shooting of a woman in the home by his father.

The May 12th incident, which left Marisol Smith, 35, and Jimmy J. [surname withheld], 39, dead, stunned the Hollow Creek community. At the time, the older of the two boys living in the home was taken into juvenile custody under suspicion of involvement in both deaths.

This week, law enforcement officials confirmed that Mr. [Surname] fatally shot Ms. Smith in an act of domestic violence. The juvenile, who had been reading to the younger child at the time in their shared room, fought for the weapon and fired at his father in what investigators have now classified as an act of justified force.

“He was protecting himself and another child from immediate harm,” said Sheriff Tilden Myers. “There is no doubt about that.”

In a striking development unrelated to the charges, the child was able to provide investigators with a list of previous residences the family had occupied across multiple states. One of those addresses—located outside Lubbock, Texas—led to the discovery of human remains buried near the foundation of an abandoned trailer home. Authorities are now working to see if other victims are out there.

This week, those remains were formally identified as belonging to the boy’s biological mother, who was never reported missing nearly nine years earlier. Her death is now believed to have occurred when the child was just six years old.

Authorities have not released the victim’s name publicly, but sources close to the investigation confirm that DNA testing provided the first formal proof of the boy’s maternal lineage. As a result, the juvenile will be granted a legal name change.

He is still awaiting placement with an appropriate foster family under private guardianship.

“This child endured unthinkable loss and trauma for a decade, and we can assume his entire life,” said Assistant District Attorney Carla Westin. “He should never have been labeled a suspect. He has always been a survivor, and now he’s a hero, too.”

Community members have expressed a mix of relief and quiet regret following the news. A small vigil was held Thursday evening near Hollow Creek Middle School, where the child once attended school and excelled in sports.

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