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Ripley County teen accused of killing 2 family members found competent to stand trial

2,733 views · Published 27 December 2018 · 1:44 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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VERSAILLES, Ind. (WKRC)- Tuesday’s hearing was set to last a few hours but ended up taking only a couple of minutes.

Two psychologists appointed by the Ripley County Court agreed the 15-year-old suspect accused of killing two of his family members is mentally competent to stand trial.

Only the suspect, Nikalas Kedrowitz, his mother, Christina McCarthy, Gary McCarthy -- who is the father of one of the victims, Desiree McCarthy -- and two other members of Kedrowitz's family were in the courtroom.

Kedrowitz is charged with killing his 23-month-old half-sister Desiree and 11-month-old Nathaniel Ritz less than three months later. Police say he suffocated them with bath towels.

The defense had asked for a mental evaluation of Kedrowitz to see if the suspect was competent to stand trial.

"The defense withdrew their motion for competency based on the doctors evaluating him and finding him competent," Ric Hertel, the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney said.

Kedrowitz is being housed in the Dearborn County Juvenile Detention Center.

A hearing scheduled for March 5 will determine whether Kedrowitz’s case will move to adult court or stay in the juvenile system.

"Given the defendant's age and the nature of the crime, that being two counts of murder, [Kedrowitz] is presumed to move to adult court unless it's in his best interest and the safety and welfare of the community for him to remain in juvenile court," Hertel said. "Given the way probable cause has already been found by the judge and police officers involved, it will fall back to the defense to show that [Kedrowitz] should remain in juvenile court.”

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