Politically charged juvenile facility killing in court
Five months ago, a co-worker found the beaten body of teacher Hannah Wheeling outside a locked state-run juvenile facility in Prince George's County -- a death that raised questions about the Department of Juvenile Services among lawmakers and could pose political problems in an election year.
Today, a 14-year-old boy whom Wheeling, 65, had taught was arraigned as a juvenile in Prince George's County Court, The Sun's Andrea Siegel reports. The boy, who was 13 at the time of the killing, faces charges of murder and rape, and prosecutors will seek next month to try him as an adult, an unusual step given the boy's young age.
The court process that will play could shed light on a killing that has largely remained mysterious during the Maryland State Police investigation -- something that state officials and law enforcement said was necessary to preserve the integrity of the case.
But now that a public court case is underway, we might learn more about not only the killing itself but also what happened afterward at the facility. How did Cheltenham employees respond? Were DJS policies followed? Did the killing result in specific policy changes?
Lawmakers first asked such questions in February. Several, including Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, a Calvert County Republican, and Sen. C. Anthony Muse, a Prince George's County Democrat, called a legislative hearing with DJS Secretary Donald W. DeVore. No one, including Muse and DeVore, attended
O'Donnell has issued press releases about the killing, demanding the resignation of DeVore and seeking answers in the Wheeling case. Last week, he wrote to Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, demanding answers. DeVore quickly issued a response, seeking to assure the lawmaker that staff safety is paramount to the department.
In May, The Sun examined the role Wheeling's death, and DJS in general, might play in the fall gubernatorial election. Both O'Malley and his likely Republican challnger, former Gov. Robert L. EHrlich Jr., have struggled to reform the agency.
Comments
Residential treatment facilities are abject failures. These "students" belong in state jails for the underaged criminals until they are 18 - then moved to adult jails.
RTCs simply tap into our "grant monies" - your tax dollars - to gain personal wealth...along with their cronies and friends. Can anyone say FRAUD?
Enough.
Posted by: JoeSmith | July 29, 2010 8:29 AM