Home burned in the Sept. 26, fatal fire
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A defense attorney is seeking a mental competency hearing for a Hutchinson teenager suspected of starting a fire that killed his mother and sister.
Other motions filed this week by attorney Greg Bell, seek an independent evaluation of 14-year old Sam Vonachen and access to his school records.
Vonachen is charged in juvenile court with two counts of first-degree murder after the Sept. 26 fire at the family’s home. He is also charged with the attempted first-degree murder of his father and aggravated arson.
The request for an independent evaluation is in response to the state’s motion to prosecute the teenager as an adult.
A hearing on the three motions was set for Jan. 2. A hearing on whether to prosecute the boy as an adult is still unscheduled.