Debate surfaces after teens charged as adults

Of course they should be charged as adults. They committed an adult crime and and should be treated as such. They knew what they were doing was wrong. To not charge them as adults would send the message to every kid in that age range that if you commit murder you'll get away with it.

Try as adults, absolutely. They conspired, planned, and brutally murdered an innocent person. They should get nothing less than life without parole. Second chances may apply in cases of much less severity, but not here. End of story.

joe is from Westminster, CO, not Lake Elsinore, CA.

These persons should be charged as adults, without hesitation. To murder this woman and then party for days, in the same house, while the Mother rotted is beyond forgiveness. And for friends to speak out about how great they are- sickens me. Idiots.

Wait a minute everyone. Let's not automatcially assume these kids are all guilty. No one knows what happened. There are three different stories right now because those kids are probably scared out of their minds.

Every situation is different. Why did these kids hate the mother so badly? What is her story?

So, we are just supposed to slap their murdering hands and say they deserve a second chance? Does Linda Damm get that chance? No. The justice system is not strict enough. If anyone, adult or juvenile, is going to commit murder, then they need to be put away. They take a life, they give up their life, then maybe people would think twice before they do something so final. The consequences for severe crimes are not enough for juvenile offenders. Kids or not. If they're able to kill and want to kill, then so be it. Their life should be over. At least life in jail. Stop babying them or we are going to see more and more of this kind of thing happen over and over again (just in case you haven't noticed, it has been for years, even since Columbine).

Bob in Denver wrote:

Wait a minute everyone. Let's not automatcially assume these kids are all guilty. No one knows what happened. There are three different stories right now because those kids are probably scared out of their minds.
Every situation is different. Why did these kids hate the mother so badly? What is her story?

Her story is irrelevant. Those kids knew what they did was wrong and did it anyway. There is NO excuse for their behavior of consenting with each other to do this. No one has the right to take another person's life in cold blood. Ridiculous!!

I agree this should be discussed. They can't vote yet they are charged with adult crimes.

I think these kids are sociopaths and for what they did, they should be locked up for life and NEVER get out, they knew what they were doing and they had no intention of ever telling anyone about it!

The one who did the hands on murder should get Life" The rest of them kids possibly should get some form of rehabilitation based on past and present criminal activities" also based on there involvement is how severe there punishment should be. BUT none deserve to walk out at 21yrs old, so far from what I have read.

I feel that if the juvenile commits a adult crime such as killing someone in cold blood then they should be treated like an adult and tried as an adult. After all they are old enough to know right from wrong. If you let teenage murders go after six year what says that they won't do it again or maybe become part of a terrorism ring.

Old enough to commit the crime, old enough to do the time.

Also in rebutal: If they were all standing there watching the murder and did nothing but party and hide eveidence for a few days,Locked up till 21yrs old sends no message--What was the circumstances? who helped? who just watched and said nothing? we shall see.

To be honest, there is a lot going here, but most of the reports coming out now clearly illustrate that these kids knew what they were doing. Both the girl and her boyfriend tell the same story, and that it was pre-meditated. I feel bad for the teen not yet charged, it doesn't sound like he wanted to be a part of it.

Elaine Smith wrote:

<quoted text>
Her story is irrelevant. Those kids knew what they did was wrong and did it anyway. There is NO excuse for their behavior of consenting with each other to do this. No one has the right to take another person's life in cold blood. Ridiculous!!

Reports are showing that the daughter tried getting her mother in rehab. Her mother was an abusive person and the system failed the child. These reports are documented.

Did you grow up in a perfect household without mental, physical, and financial troubles? If you have, then you know how that child felt each day. If you haven't, then you have no idea and will continue to bad mouth her.

The State failed this child and she is too young to understand what she was apart of was wrong.

Everyday in Iraq, people kill each other in cold blood or should I say in OIL BLOOD. So... GW should be held liable, correct?

Eric wrote:

I think these kids are sociopaths and for what they did, they should be locked up for life and NEVER get out, they knew what they were doing and they had no intention of ever telling anyone about it!

They probably told the police about it because they were crying out for help. There are reports of the mother being abusive to her daughter.

What does Eric do for a living? Truck Driver? garbage man? 7-11 Clerk? Gas Station attendent?

These kids should indeed be judged as adults as the crime was is first degree murder which is the crime of premeditated, deliberate killing. I reckon no child mind can concoct such crime. Futhermore, no child will ever treat the body with such lack of respect. A child that commits a crime will break apart facing his/her act right away and will only act violently in the spur of the moment. The problem in my opinion is that we have such an artificial line for adulthood, 18 years of age, regardless of level maturity. Some people are men and women at 15 because in their environments they face responsabilities, challenges. Some people reach college and because they grew up in bubbles, they act like children. This is all very confusing but my instinct is that these "kids" are not such.

I think the behavior after the murder is oh so telling. The partying and complete lack of remorse makes this a very heartless crime. Not much chance they will be able to say it was accidental when it was never reported. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. That's what will ring in their ears when they are in prison.

I'm so tired of people who grew up in less than favorable sercomstances using it as an excuse to hurt other people and themselves, and yes mine was NOT the best childhood,but I looked back and said I'm not going to be that way and made better choices for my own family. Those kids involved knew in their hearts it was wrong.I hope they send a message to other kids that you cant get away with murder .

I'm so tired of people who grew up in less than favorable conditions using it as an excuse to hurt other people and themselves, and yes mine was NOT the best childhood,but I looked back and said I'm not going to be that way and made better choices for my own family. Those kids involved knew in their hearts it was wrong.I hope they send a message to other kids that you cant get away with murder .