Eduardo Marmolejo, 16-Year-Old Student, Indicted For Murder In Fatal Stabbing Of Principal Suzette York

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A 16-year-old Tennessee boy faces a first-degree murder charge in the fatal stabbing of his principal.

The district attorney's office in Tennessee's Shelby County said Tuesday that Eduardo Marmolejo of Memphis has been indicted in the death of 49-year-old Suzette York.

York was the principal of Memphis Junior Academy, a private high school affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist church. Police said Marmolejo planned York's death for months before stabbing her repeatedly in a classroom on the third day of school last August.

Marmolejo has been held without bond since his transfer from juvenile court to adult court.

His lawyer, Leslie Ballin, said Marmolejo is unable to clearly understand the legal process and is not mentally able to stand trial as an adult.

Comments

[OdinsEye]

10:59 AM on 03/01/2012

Obviously we need better knife control laws. Where did he get the knife? Was it registered? Did he pass a background check to buy the knife? People should have to pass mental health checks, training classes and get a license to possess knives. Pocket knives should be banned. People who own knives should be required to carry insurance covering knife injuries. We should have safe storage laws for knives.

[Angie Shrum]

09:13 PM on 03/01/2012

Are you kidding? If a person wants to stab someone, they'll find a way. Trust me on that one. No matter how strict the laws, the person would find a way. Don't try to use a news article to push your political beliefs.

[Rita Khanna]

10:48 PM on 02/29/2012

A recent case that has created shockwaves in India. Student stabbed his teacher in class.
http://www.firstpost.com/india/chennai-teachers-murder-a-sign-of-increasing-violence-in-schools-209008.html

[carmillivanilli]

01:13 PM on 02/29/2012

What a shame.

[sirgeek]

12:57 PM on 02/29/2012

Times like this show the need for a new sentence. We should have "Guilty", "Not Guilty", "and Guilty but Insane" .

Get rid of the "Not guilty by reason of insanity. If they did it, they did it. PERIOD.