BREVARD COUNTY — A Brevard County teenager charged with second-degree murder in connection with his younger sister’s death will be tried as an adult, the State Attorney’s Office said Friday.
Noah Walls, 15, hit his 21-month-old sister, Riley Martin, Jan. 10 at their home near Cocoa, causing Martin to fall, deputies said. Martin was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"This is a tragic case of a juvenile caught up in a terrible, horrible act,” State Attorney Phil Archer said. “Investigators have informed us of his deep remorse. But in many ways, our hands are tied.”
Archer said the case exemplifies the need for pending legislation that would allow prosecutors to blend sentences for juveniles followed by adult probationary periods.
“If we prosecute him as a juvenile, the state would only have control for about three more years of his life,” Archer said.
Walls told investigators he grew frustrated with his sister before striking her.
An autopsy report determined Martin died from blunt-force trauma.
Walls has been jailed at the Juvenile Detention Center since his arrest on Jan. 11.
He will be transferred to the Brevard County Detention Center.
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