Update by Fred Gough
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 15 year old accused of killing his mother and sister and attempting to kill his father will be tried as an adult.
Reno County District Judge Patti Macke-Dick issued her written opinion Tuesday morning in the case of Sam Vonachen, who was a 14-year-old at the time of the alleged crimes.
Vonachen faces two counts of first-degree murder, two alternate counts of felony 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 gas throughout the house, then lighting it. The blaze killed his mother, Karla Jo Vonachen; and his sister Audrey. The teen’s father was able to escape the fire.
Earlier this year, the judge found he was competent to stand trial and writes in her decision that she believes the crimes were committed in a premeditated or willful manner as described by law enforcement during the closed hearing and that the alleged offenses were against both people and property. She goes on to says that the offenses were not just personal injury and damage to property, but loss of life. She says she doesn’t believe the alleged crimes were predictable or provoked.
She noted that the teen doesn’t have any previous criminal history, no previous indication of anti-social behavior, doesn’t seem mature beyond his years and appeared to have had a normal home life. His school life was trouble free and had above average grades.
The question for the judge was whether there are facilities or programs that could rehabilitate the teen prior to the expiration of the juvenile courts jurisdiction when he would reach 22.5 years of age. She says because of the mystery surrounding the motivation of the teen to take the actions he did, its unknown how to protect the safety of the community or his family. She says she made the decision with deep reluctance to have the teen prosecuted as an adult.
With the ruling, the juvenile case was dismissed. Formal adult criminal charges have been filed by the Reno County District Attorney’s Office, against Vonachen, alleging alternative methods of committing murder in the first degree involving the deaths of his mother, the attempted murder in the first degree of Steve Vonachen and aggravated arson.
A first appearance has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Wednesday in the Position I courtroom on the first floor of the Reno County Courthouse before District Court Judge Trish Rose. Bond has been set at $1,000,000.