Police have charged a 15-year-old Virginia boy with murder. The teen is accused of killing his adoptive parents in a violent attack at their home. Donna Daugherty, 61, and John Daugherty, 60, of Chesapeake were found dead Tuesday after police were called to a home around 6:30 a.m.
Authorities had received a call alerting them that there were “people being hurt,” according to WVEC. Police are now trying to determine a motive for the killings.
According to neighbors, the family had other adopted children.
The Virginian-Pilot reported that the family lived in the Homecrest Mobile Home Community in South Norfolk. Etta Seagle, a community resident for more than 30 years, told the Virginian-Pilot that she was familiar with Donna Daugherty but had only spoken to her a few times.
A teenage friend of one of the children who lived in the home said he spent a lot of time with the family, and all of the children were adopted. A neighbor who did not want to be identified told WVEC that the family had three teenagers living with them, including two girls.
The killings came as a shock to the community.
Neighbors told several news outlets that they were in disbelief over the crime scene in their neighborhood. Seagle told WAVY, “I’m stunned. I really am stunned.”
“I just can’t believe this happened. I’m still shocked by it,” neighbor Eddie Gray told News 3 via WTKR. “As soon as I came in, my sister asked me ‘have you been watching the news?’ I’ve been at work all day.”
Gray said he had recently seen the teen working on a truck and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary, according to WTKR. He added that he had spoken to Donna Daugherty just the night before.
He was also friendly with John Daugherty. “They were always out,” he said, according to WTKR. “Especially the dad, he was always outside cooking. He’s got a big smoker and he smokes stuff all the time. He just brought me some ribs a couple of weeks ago.”
Police have identified a potential murder weapon.
Although the attack’s motive is still under investigation, the Pilot reported investigators found two weapons on the scene. It appears the couple were killed with either a knife or a hammer. Police took the 15-year-old into custody and charged him with two counts of aggravated murder. His name was not released.
A recent post on Donna Daugherty's Facebook page is haunting.
She posted an unrelated message on Facebook in early November about embracing her age and enjoying life. The post reads in part, “We should never feel bad about getting older. It’s a privilege that is denied to so many. Enjoy every minute.”
Sadly, her life was cut short, and many have been left wondering why.
Parricide is the rarest type of murder in the US.
Merriam-Webster defines parricide as “one that murders his or her father, mother, or a close relative.” KTNV reported that parricide is the rarest form of homicide, according to a 2019 study. The FBI reported parricide accounted for just 2% of murders in 2017.
Although older adults more often commit parricide, it is not unheard of for an adolescent to kill a parent. In these cases, it is usually due to long-term abuse. Additionally, parricide by youth is often motivated by conflict with the parent, the news outlet reported.
Whether the teen is to be tried as a juvenile or as an adult remains to be seen.
The 15-year-old has been charged with two counts of agrravated murder and is being represented by a public defender and guardian ad litem, as he no longer has parents, WAVY reported.
If convicted, he faces two life sentences. A judge will determine if he will be tried as a juvenile or an adult and whether the case will be heard in circuit court or juvenile court. He is due in court January 31.
