Teen sentenced to 18 years for sister's death

Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 23, 2007 at midnight

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CENTENNIAL -- A 15-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to killing his sister and setting fire to her body to cover up the crime, was sentenced today to 18 years in prison, but may serve as few as six years if he completes a program at a youth correctional facility.

James Meyer did not speak at his sentencing, but his mother, Elaine, told the judge she believes what happened was an accident.

"It goes without saying that this has been a horrible tragedy for our entire family," she said. "It was an accident that quickly went out of control."

Arapahoe County District Judge John Wheeler sentenced Meyer to 18 years at the Department of Corrections, but if the teen completes six years in the Youth Offender System program in Pueblo, the rest of the sentence will be suspended.

Meyer set fire to the body of his sister, Jessica, 13, in June of last year in the garage of the teenagers home.

An affidavit in the case that would explain what authorities believe happened, continues to be sealed despite a motion by the Rocky Mountain News to make it public.

Although few details about how Meyer killed his sister or why have become public, Deputy District Attorney Patryce Engel alluded in her pre-sentencing statement to inappropriate sexual behavior.

She later declined to elaborate on what she meant.

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