Teen accused of murdering father to hide bad grades
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9:55 p.m. December 16, 2005
SANTA CLARA – A 15-year-old boy allegedly killed his father then set the house on fire because he was afraid his father would find out he was failing some classes, prosecutors said.
The teen, Ryan Watts, was charged as an adult Friday in the murder of his father, 50-year-old John E. Bruner, who was initially believed to have died in the fire that engulfed the home he shared with his son earlier this week.
The Santa Clara High School sophomore was arrested Wednesday after an autopsy determined that Bruner, whose body was badly burned in the blaze, died from multiple gunshot wounds and not from the fire, Santa Clara police said.
According to court documents, Watts told police took a handgun from his father's bedroom safe and stashed it in his own room shortly before the killing.
"On Monday morning, he walked out of his house with the loaded .45-caliber handgun and a knife. Instead of going to school, he hid in his backyard and snuck back into his house," Sgt. Wahid Kazem wrote in an affidavit filed with the court.
After shooting his father in the head at close range, Watts lit the body on fire because it was too heavy to carry to the backyard, where he had planned to bury it, according to court documents. Watts stashed the gun and walked to Taco Bell, where he ate a couple of tacos, before returning home and calling 911 to report the fire, court documents said.
His parents apparently were separated, and he had been staying at his mother's Sunnyvale home since the fire, police said.
Brad Syth, principal of Santa Clara High School, said Watts had no history of discipline or attendance problems.
If convicted, Watts faces life in prison. He's not eligible for the death penalty because he's a juvenile.
Watts was expected to enter a plea at his next court appearance Dec. 22.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20051216-2155-ca-teenagesuspect.html
ASSOCIATED PRESS
9:55 p.m. December 16, 2005
SANTA CLARA – A 15-year-old boy allegedly killed his father then set the house on fire because he was afraid his father would find out he was failing some classes, prosecutors said.
The teen, Ryan Watts, was charged as an adult Friday in the murder of his father, 50-year-old John E. Bruner, who was initially believed to have died in the fire that engulfed the home he shared with his son earlier this week.
The Santa Clara High School sophomore was arrested Wednesday after an autopsy determined that Bruner, whose body was badly burned in the blaze, died from multiple gunshot wounds and not from the fire, Santa Clara police said.
According to court documents, Watts told police took a handgun from his father's bedroom safe and stashed it in his own room shortly before the killing.
"On Monday morning, he walked out of his house with the loaded .45-caliber handgun and a knife. Instead of going to school, he hid in his backyard and snuck back into his house," Sgt. Wahid Kazem wrote in an affidavit filed with the court.
After shooting his father in the head at close range, Watts lit the body on fire because it was too heavy to carry to the backyard, where he had planned to bury it, according to court documents. Watts stashed the gun and walked to Taco Bell, where he ate a couple of tacos, before returning home and calling 911 to report the fire, court documents said.
His parents apparently were separated, and he had been staying at his mother's Sunnyvale home since the fire, police said.
Brad Syth, principal of Santa Clara High School, said Watts had no history of discipline or attendance problems.
If convicted, Watts faces life in prison. He's not eligible for the death penalty because he's a juvenile.
Watts was expected to enter a plea at his next court appearance Dec. 22.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20051216-2155-ca-teenagesuspect.html
