ELKTON, Ky. - A southern Kentucky teenager has been charged as an adult with beating his adopted sister to death and trying to hide her body.
A Todd County grand jury indicted 17-year-old Garrett Thomas Dye late Friday morning in the death of 9-year-old Amy Dye, who was found dead Feb. 4, in a field near Trenton just hours after being reported missing.
Garrett Dye, a student at Todd County Central High School, is the biological cousin of Amy Dye, The Kentucky New Era reported. Garrett Dye's parents adopted Amy.
Todd District Judge Carol Sue Browning wrote that he had a "substantial prior record." Juvenile criminal files are not public record under state law, but a case number associated with Dye's indictment indicates he has been charged in four prior cases.
Detective Lonnie Kavanaugh wrote in a warrant that Garrett Dye admitted to beating Amy with a jack handle and told them where to find the weapon.
He was arrested Feb. 6. Garrett Dye will turn 18 in October. Under Kentucky law, a juvenile can be tried as an adult if he is at least 14 and charged with a capital offense or a Class A or Class B felony.
Dye remains at the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center in Bowling Green, without bond.