Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, July 28, 2011
(MARTINSVILLE, IN) - Charges have been filed against the mother of an 11-year-old boy who police say shot and killed his 6-year-old brother, Andrew Frye.
28-year-old Amanda Vandagrifft faces four felonies, including neglect of a dependant causing death.
Her boyfriend, 30-year-old Matthew Boulden faces three counts of felony neglect.
Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega stated Vandagrifft faces the more serious charges because she knows the boy's history of problems and Boulden didn't.
The 11-year-old faces a September trial in juvenile court.
A probable cause affidavit states Vandagrifft and Boulden left the 11-year-old to watch Andrew as they went to Indianapolis for work on June 30th.
The 11-year-old first told investigators that he heard a pop while in the bathroom and found his brother in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to his head.
He later admitted to investigators that he asked Andrew to clean his room and when he said no, he retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from his parent's room and tried to scare his brother and the gun went off.
The probable cause affidavit also states the boys 9-year-old sister told investigators that the 11-year-old had threatened to kill all three children with a gun or knives on numerous occasions for not doing chores for him.
The girl also said she attempted several times to tell their parents but they did not intervene.
Vandagrifft and Boulden appeared in court Wednesday afternoon and Judge Jane Spencer Craney recused herself from Vandagrifft's case.
Judge Craney stated she knows Vandagrifft's mother, who works for the county.
Boulden will next appear in court November 7th.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.