HUTCHINSON, Kan. — District Judge Patty Macke-Dick took under advisement Monday as to whether a 15 year old accused of killing his mother and sister and attempting to kill his father should be tried as an adult.
The hearing for Sam Vonachen, who was 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes, started Monday morning and was over by mid-afternoon.
He faces two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson. He is accused of setting fire to the family home back on Sept. 26, 2013, by pouring gasoline throughout the house then lighting it. The blaze killed the two family members while the suspect’s father was able to escape. Audrey Vonachen was declared dead at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center shortly after the fire was extinguished. Karla Vonachen was transported to a hospital in Wichita and died later in the afternoon.
There were a number of breaks during Monday’s hearing and after the hearing was over, District Attorney Keith Schroeder told us the judge had taken the matter under advisement. That means she will issue a ruling at some later date. Schroeder says she has a lot of evidence presented to go through before she makes a decision.
The two sides cannot comment much on what occurred in the hearing because of a gag order issued in the case by Judge Macke-Dick.
We will continue to follow this story and when we learn of a decision, we’ll let you know.