A baby-faced 13 year-old boy was marched into court to face charges of murdering his sleeping 10 year-old best friend in a horrific bloodbath.
James Campbell was arraigned at Westmoreland County Courthouse in Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon, hours after he is said to have killed Hunter Meyers.
Campbell is accused of knifing Meyers multiple times in the head at his grandmother’s home, which sits around 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
Meyers, who attended Agora Cyber Charter School with Campbell, was staying there at the time and was fast asleep when he was killed. Meyers’ mother Dorothy Meyers said the youngsters were best friends and cousins.
James Campbell, 13, is marched into court Thursday to be tried for the murder of his 10 year-old cousin Hunter Meyers at the boys’ grandmother’s house in Pennsylvania
Meyers, pictured, was knifed to death by his cousin as he slept, his mother Dorothy Meyers says
Police are pictured at the scene of Thursday morning’s horrific murder in Donegal Township, which sits about 60 miles south east of Pittsburgh
She said that there had never been any concerns about Campbell prior to the killing and that they had ‘no warning’ of what was to happen.
Police say they’re struggling to come up with a motive and have appealed for witnesses.
Dorothy Meyers has also since offered an astonishing plea for compassion for her son’s alleged murderer, urging people to remember that Campbell is himself a child.
Taking to Facebook, she wrote: ‘I am seeing everyone’s messages. I just can’t open them right now. I’m not excepting friends requests right now. I’m not trying to be mean but our 10 yr son was just murdered by another child in our family and we are trying to come to terms with it.
Dorothy Meyers shared a series of anguished messages about her son’s murder on Facebook – and made an incredible plea for compassion for his suspected killer
‘DO NOT GO AFTER THE OTHER CHILD WITH ANY HATE! He is a child also, and he will pay for his actions. He’s being charged as an adult, with criminal homicide and 1st degree murder.
‘If I as the murdered child’s mother can ask for compassion for the other child involved then people can show it
Meyers added: ‘If you take nothing else from this, please keep all of the hate about the other child to yourself.
‘This is not an adult, he is a child. Did he brutally murder my child, yes. If anyone has the right to hate him it is us and we don’t so no one else has that right.’
Dorothy, pictured, also appealed for help in finding a funeral home that could handle her son’s body
Dorothy Meyers said she was extremely cautious with who babysat her children and has appealed for help finding a funeral home who can prepare her son’s body.
A 911 call was made at 6am Thursday, with Meyers’ body found with a knife beside him. Campbell had blood on his pants and feet, WPXI reported.
He is said to have confessed to the killing during a subsequent police interview.
The alleged teen killer was clad in blue prison-issue clothing and kept his eyes on the floor as he was walked into court by Pennsylvania State Police Officers.
Campbell is being tried as an adult and spoke in a soft voice to confirm his identity and answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when asked basic questions, WTAE reported.
Asked about a motive, Trooper Steve Limani said cops are still mystified.
‘I don’t say we would have any specific argument or anything that took place that we would call a motive. I don’t think that that’s the right word to use,’ he explained.
Campbell has been charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder.
He was ordered held without bond until his next court appearance.
Meyers’ mother Dorothy also paid a moving tribute to her young son, saying he loved animals, spending time at the park and cuddling.
She said Meyers’ adored diesel trucks and the police and hoped to be a cop or a diesel mechanic when he grew up.
A spokesperson for the boys’ school called the incident a ‘tragic situation’ and said counselors would be made available to students when the school year starts again in fall.
A GoFundMe set up to help support Meyers’ family had raised more than $16,000 as of Friday night.
