Westmoreland teen accused of shooting mother, brother to be tried as adult

NEW STANTON, Pa. — NEW STANTON (AP) — A Pennsylvania teenager accused of killing his mother and younger brother in their home will be tried as an adult.

A judge ruled Wednesday that the community would be at risk if 16-year-old Jacob Remaley was prosecuted in the juvenile court system.

RELATED: Attorneys argue boy accused of killing mom, brother, should be tried as juvenile

The youth faces first-degree murder and criminal homicide charges in the November 2016 shootings in New Stanton that killed 46-year-old Dana Remaley and her 8-year-old son Caleb. He was 14 at the time.

RELATED: 14-year-old charged in shooting deaths of mother, 8-year-old brother in New Stanton

Public Defender Wayne McGrew said he was disappointed in the ruling. He has argued that Remaley suffers from mental illness and was under the influence of a dominant personality, which told him to commit the murders.

District Attorney John Peck declined comment, saying he had not reviewed the judge's opinion.

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Associated Press