Teen who killed girlfriend's parents to be released after 5 years
DALLAS -- A Garland, Texas, teenager who shot and killed his girlfriend's parents five years ago will be released on parole this summer.
A juvenile court judge approved a plan Wednesday to release the teen on probation when he turns 19. Following release, he will be moved to a transitional home and wear a monitor bracelet for a period of time before serving the duration of his 28-year sentence on probation, until 2038.
"I'm just biding my time and waiting for him to mess up," said Charlotte Nevil, sister-in-law of victim Alan Nevil.
The young man was convicted of shooting and killing Alan Nevil and his wife Darlene in August of 2010. He was just 13-years-old at the time, which is why he and the Nevil's daughter have not been named.
When police arrived at the Nevil home in 2010, Alan Nevil was clinging to life and told police that the young man shot him. He died two weeks later at a hospital.
At the time, the young man was dating Nevil's 12-year-old stepdaughter, who planned the murders because she was angry her parents had grounded her and taken her coloring books away. The girl convinced her boyfriend to kill her mother and stepfather after lying and saying that her stepfather had sexually abused her. While the teen allegedly rejected the murder plot, she finally convinced him to carry out the murders.
She was also convicted and will have a similar release hearing later this year.
At the time, the family accepted a plea deal with a 28-year-sentence and a minimum of 10 years in prison.
In court Wednesday, counselors said the young man is changed and deserves an early release. They said he has gone through treatment and is now remorseful. Judge Andrea Martin agreed.
But while counselors allege that time behind bars has changed the teen, his first years in juvenile detention were far from without incident. He was involved in 64 incidents, 21 of which required him to be moved to a security unit, officials said, the Washington Post reported.
"He's just saying what he's got to say just to get out," said Susan Nevil, the victim's daughter.
She testified on the stand about the pain that the incident has caused her family and said her own children have been left without a grandfather. She also said she worries about his release, fearing he might retaliate against the Nevil family.
"I thought he was going to serve more time. We all thought he was going to serve more time," she said. "Why would you let someone out after you murder two people, only serving 5 years?"