Photo: GoFundMe
Aidan Zellmer, the Colorado teen whopleaded guilty to murdering his 10-year-old friendwith a metal pipe last month after molesting her, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 40 years, PEOPLE confirms.
In February, Zellmer, 17, pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Kiaya Campbell on June 7, 2017, in the city of Thornton. As part of his plea, prosecutors agreed to drop additional charges including sexual assault.
On Monday, Zellmer, who was 15 at the time of the murder, appeared before an Adams County judge, who heard from Zellmer’s defense attorney and relatives of Kiaya, a district attorney’s office spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
While the defense said Zellmer’s actions were a result of a troubled home life and mental health issues, Kiaya’s family dismissed the excuse for the girl’s murder, local stationsKDVR,9Newsand theDenverPostreport.
Last month, Adams County District Attorney Dave Young shared the family’s sentiment when Zellmer pleaded guilty,ABC7 Denverreported at the time.
“Fifteen-year-olds make bad decisions but they don’t commit cruel, heinous crimes like this,” he said. “After striking her five times in the head with a metal pipe, he left her in a field. When he talked to police, he was calm, cool and collected. He misled and deceived police who were looking for her. This is a rare case. Thank God we don’t have other 15-year-olds doing what he did.”
Kiaya Campbell.Thornton Police Department
At the time, Kiaya’s father was living with his girlfriend, Zellmer’s mother. The teen initially told investigators he’d gotten separated from Kiaya as they were running home after being caught in a rainstorm.
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An AMBER Alert was issued and a neighbor found Kiaya’s body near where she was reported missing. The affidavit states she had been struck in the head five times with a metal pipe, sexually assaulted, dragged into a ditch and left to die.
When Zellmer heard the news he cried and denied hurting the girl but investigators noted in the affidavit that his story did not make sense and DNA evidence recovered linked Zellmer to the crime.
Zellmer has never shown remorse for his crimes, his family said Monday, thePostreports. Wearing Kiaya’s favorite colors, teal and pink, her family spoke about the pain of losing the girl.
Judge Sharon Holbrook told Kiaya’s family she understood that nothing she could say would bring back their loved one but that said she hoped the community would help them heal.
“Kiaya will not be forgotten,” Holbrook said, KDVR reports.
source: people.com
