The 17-year-old boy who ‘brutally and mercilessly’ killed his parents before having a house party while their bodies were still inside a bedroom appeared in court today and denied bail.
Tyler Hadley, of Port St Lucie, Florida, is accused of beating his school teacher mother Mary-Jo and father Blake to death with a hammer, which was found lying between their bodies.
Hadley will not face the death penalty due to the fact he is a minor despite the fact he has been tried on two counts of first-degree murder as an adult.
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He is likely to serve a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl said: ‘It’s simply off the table, it’s not a viable option.
‘Despite the fact that the case may otherwise in all respects warrant the death penalty, we are prohibited from seeking it as a result of Hadley being approximately six months short of his 18th birthday.’
Hadley was wearing a sleeveless black jail uniform as he appeared via video conference from the St Lucie County Jail in front of a judge at the courthouse.
He spoke only three times during the hearing – once when he was asked to confirm his name, then to answer whether or not he had an attorney and when asked if he had any questions when told he was denied bail.
