A 16-year-old Salem juvenile boy has been certified to stand trial as an adult on an attempted murder charge.
The juvenile has been held since June when he was accused of stabbing his girlfriend in the arm, chest, and back with a knife with a three-inch blade. The incident allegedly occurred at the girl’s home in Salem Mobile Home Park in June. She was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital but was released later the same day.
State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth says one of the reasons he sought the certification from Judge Wesley Gozia to try the 16-year-old as an adult was evidence found in his phone which indicated the stabbing may have been premeditated.
Hudspeth now plans to seek an arrest warrant for the 16-year-old as an adult. Once it is opened in court the boy’s name will be released publicly.
In the meantime, the 16-year-old, who has been held in juvenile detention since shortly after the stabbing occurred, was ordered to remain in juvenile detention until the switch to adult criminal court is complete.
