March 15, 2001--
A 14-year-old girl is in custody for allegedly scheming what police are calling a murder for revenge plot.
Police say the 15-year-old victim barely escaped the elaborate conspiracy that was carefully planned out by her classmate.
Crime Specialist Karen Scullin reports from West Lake Junior High School.
It began here at West Lake Junior High School. A fourteen year old student, at school just a week, was apparently being picked on by a fifteen year old classmate. But no one, not even police, can believe the bizaare and deadly plan for revenge.
Bobby Haag/Neighbor: UNBELIEVABLE. I CAN'T-- SOMETHING LIKE THAT-- I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
Police say a fifteen year old victim narrowly escaped death.
The victim had apparently been teasing the fourteen year old West Lake Junior High student at school.
So the suspect came up with a plan for revenge.
After school,
she lured the fifteen year old to her uncle's home
with a one hundred dollar bill and a bogus line about entering a design contest.
Chief Alan Kerstein/West Valley City Police Dept.: SHE CONVINCED THE FIFTEEN YEAR OLD THAT THIS WAS VALID AND SHE WANTED TO COME OVER, PUT ON THE DRESS SHE'D MODEL, TAKE THE PHOTOS, AND THEY'D SUBMIT THEM AND THEY'D BOTH SHARE THE FAME OR GLORY THAT CAME WITH THAT.
Inside the home, the suspect asked the victim to plug in a light. When she did, the fourteen year old hit her over
the head with an empty liquor bottle.
Chief Kerstein: AND THEN BEGAN BEATING HER WITH IT. THE FIFTEEN YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO FEND OFF THE ATTACK.
As the victim headed for the door, the suspect went for a large kitchen knife.
But the fifteen year old managed to escape and go for help. The suspect took off.
Karen Scullin/Eyewitness News: THE FOURTEEN YEAR OLD SUSPECT ENDED UP AT THE SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SHE APPARENTLY HAD A PLAN TO FLY TO NEBRASKA, BUT WHEN SHE GOT HERE SHE FOUND OUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH. AIRPORT POLICE PICKED HER UP BEGGING FOR MONEY.
Detectives say her plan had two goals. Kill the girl who was teasing her. But she then planned to set the house on fire, hoping detectives would think the body was hers.
She could then head to Nebraska to assume a new identity. Police say it was a close call.
Chief Kerstein: IF SHE HAD BECOME UNCONSCIOUS, SHE WOULD BE DEAD NOW, AND WE'D BE INVESTIGATING A MURDER AND AN ARSON.
This afternoon, one day after the attack, the suspect's father arrived from California to the home where he THOUGHT his daughter would start a new life living with her uncle.
He says his fourteen year old daughter didn't like her California school,
but there were no major problems, no signs of violence.
So he never thought his daughter would develop a plan to kill a classamte.
Javier/Suspect's Father: I FEEL REALLY BAD , REALLY FEEL...CAUSE SHE'S ONLY FOURTEEN YEAR'S OLD.
The suspect has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder.
She's in juvenile detention.
Counselors will be on hand at the junior high school tomorrow if any students need help.
