BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County judge decided on Thursday that a jury will see the videotaped interrogation of a teen accused of murdering his neighbor. Prosecutors said Alan Tanguay was just 16 when he killed the victim over $6.
A judge decided police did everything by the book.
It really came down to this teen's Miranda rights. Did he understand his right to remain silent, that his statements could be used against him, and that he had a right to talk to an attorney and have one during questioning.
The judge believes the teen understood and waived the rights.
Tanguay is still a teenager. But prosecutors believe he was already a cold-blooded killer by the age of 16.
Tanguay is accused of breaking into a Palm Bay neighbor's home in September of 2008, and stabbing Patricia Kaliszeski to death for beer money.
Investigators said they got a confession. WFTV watched a video from a hearing to suppress Tanguay's statement's to police. The defendant's mother told the court when her son was taken away during a search of her home, she didn't know he was the prime suspect.
"They didn't tell me they had a search warrant. They didn't tell me why they were at my house," said his mother, Donna Marie Tanguay in the court video.
Donna Marie Tanguay soon realized her son was under arrest for murder.
But by the time she reached an attorney and called police to tell them she didn't want her son questioned, the interrogation was over.
"They never told me he was under arrest, they never told me that," she said. "They just said questioning. I never would have let my son talk to anybody without me being there."
The prosecution argued that the teen was properly read his rights. The defense argued Tanguay, who is a high school drop out, may not have voluntarily surrendered his rights. He may not have even understood them.
"I can't say I did. I can't say I didn't," he said in the court video.
After viewing what Tanguay had to say, the judge decided Tanguay spoke to police of his own free will.
The trial is set to begin on Monday.