Judge considering if youth can be tried as an adult in Cheltenham slaying

The youth, whose name has not been released because of his juvenile status, was arraigned July 28, at which point the state's attorney's office requested the court waive the boy's juvenile status and try him as an adult given the nature of the crime. Conflicting schedules, witness availability and the sheer complexity of the case stretched what Nichols said would normally be a weeklong process into a six-month-long affair.

The youth, who has been present in court but has not spoken, would be the youngest-ever juvenile charged as an adult in the county. Previously the youngest juvenile to face adult charges was 14 at the time of the crime, according to the county state's attorney's office.