When human remains were discovered this Tuesday on a trail behind a community in Tennessee, it kicked off an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old boy.
This Thursday Judge Tim Irwin ruled that the juvenile suspect’s name should be released. Authorities have identified the teen as Malakiah Lamar Harris.
In a press release, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said it responded to a report of a body on a dirt walking trail in the Broadacres Subdivision of the Powell community, located in the northwest part of Knox County. Deputies arrived at the scene shortly after and confirmed that a deceased female was there.
According to 10 News, the remains were of a 13-year-old girl. She was allegedly stabbed to death by Harris after he arranged for them to meet. Her identity has not been released by authorities.
After detectives and the Knox County Medical Examiner processing the scene, detectives arrested Harris, a Powell resident. Harris was charged with second-degree murder and is in custody at the Richard L. Bean Detention Facility. Since the investigation is ongoing, additional charges may be brought, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.
“I am grateful to everyone at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work and diligence in this case. I also want to thank the Knox County School System for their assistance and cooperation. We ask you to keep the family of the victim, the Powell community, and our responding personnel in your prayers. As law enforcement professionals, nothing can prepare us for days like yesterday,” said Sheriff Tom Spangler.
Defense attorney Christina Kleiser sought to keep Harris’ name redacted, 10 News said. She argued that he is entitled to be spared damage from mass media exposure. Although Harris is a juvenile, Irwin said his identity should be made public because Tennessee state law recognizes the charge and the nature of the crime as one to which the public has access, 10 News explained.
Going forward, Harris is expected to have a status hearing Tuesday. Per 10 News, Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen’s office may seek to have the case moved from juvenile court to Knox County Criminal Court. There, Harris would potentially face a trial. Minors “rarely are shifted from the juvenile system to adult court,” said 10 News, though extreme cases such as murder may qualify.
“Under Tennessee law, someone age 14-17 can face potential transfer under certain legal circumstances. The juvenile court system maintains authority over a young defendant’s treatment until their 19th birthday,” said 10 News.
In Florida, a 14-year-old girl taken into custody this May for the death of her 79-year-old grandmother was charged as an adult. On the other hand, a group of teen girls who allegedly beat a 64-year-old man to death in Washington, D.C., were tried as juveniles.
Audacy reported earlier this month on research that indicates homicides committed by juveniles increased by 65%, from 315 to 521 between 2016 and 2022. Another recent teen-committed homicide covered by Audacy involved a group of around 15 teens who beat another teen boy to death in the Las Vegas area.
Additionally, several teens have been identified as mass school shooters in recent years, including 14-year-old Colt Gray, who was accused of bringing an AR-style rifle to Apalachee High School outside of Atlanta, Ga., and killing fellow students this year. Other juvenile school shooters include Townville Elementary School shooter Jesse Dewitt Osborne, 14; Freeman High School shooter Caleb Sharpe, 15; Santa Fe High School shooter Dimitrios Pagourtzis, 17; Marshall High School shooter Gabe Parker, 15; STEM School Highlands Ranch shooter Alec McKinney, 16; Saugus High School shooter Nathaniel Tennosuke Berhow, 16, and Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, 15.