Santa Cruz police said Adrian Jerry Gonzalez lured Madyson Middleton into his family’s apartment from a courtyard where she had been riding her scooter last weekend.
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Madyson Middleton, 8, was killed Sunday, July 27, 2015, allegedly by a 15-year-old neighbor from her Santa Cruz, Calif., apartment complex.
Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell said Wednesday the teen is facing a charge of murder with special circumstances including kidnapping and sex offense.
A Santa Cruz police detective found Maddy’s body concealed in a recycling bin in a first-floor garage at the complex Monday night.
“We’re confident in the charges we filed and that’s what justice demands”, Rosell said to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Police said the girl was likely killed before even being reported missing. Police believe the girl was dead when they began their search for her.
Staff at the Tannery Arts Center office said they’ll have grief counselors for residents this week to help the children understand what happened over the last several days.
The victim, Madyson “Maddy” Middleton, and the suspect were acquainted because they both lived in the Tannery Arts Center apartment complex, as indicated by the police chief. Photos show him proudly demonstrating his yo-yo tricks. Prosecutors want to try the teen as an adult on an aggravated murder charge.
Gonzalez is now in custody at the Santa Cruz County juvenile detention center, where he will remain held until sentencing is complete. “Sometimes we don’t”, he said.
“During these tragic times, our thoughts and prayers are with Madyson Middleton, her family, her friends and the entire Santa Cruz community”, Rosell said. Soon after the discovery, Gonzalez was found nearby, taken in by police for questioning and arrested on suspicion of homicide, Vogel said.
The teenager was among the oldest of about 50 children who made the complex their playground each day, as mentioned by Kirby Scudder, a resident and artist, who says he is dating Maddy’s mother, an artist named Laura Jordan.
Residents have been heartbroken to learn that he is suspected in the death, he said. “All of us, if you ask us what you think of him, we’d tell you he’s an outstanding kid”, Cartabiano told The Post.
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On Tuesday morning, the trash-collection area where Madyson’s body was found remained roped off. Visitors stopped at a walkway memorial to pay respects with candles, bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals.
