Alleged accomplices charged in 14-year-old burglar's death

[April 30, 2008]  OREGON, Ill. (AP) -- An adult and two teens were charged with murder after they broke into a home with a 14-year-old boy, who was shot to death by a houseguest, authorities said Tuesday.

State law allows murder charges when a death results from events begun during a forcible felony, such as residential burglary, Ogle County State's Attorney Ben Roe said.

A grand jury added the murder indictments Monday to other charges against the three defendants, he said.

Travis Castle of Durand was killed April 6 after breaking into a home near the northern Illinois village of Stillman Valley, authorities said. No charges have been filed against the houseguest, whom authorities have not identified.

Castle had three alleged accomplices. Authorities said 16-year-old Nathan Whitmire and 15-year-old Justin Doyle broke into the home with Castle while 18-year-old Cody Wayne Moore waited in a car.

All three Rockford residents now are charged as adults with first-degree murder, home invasion and residential burglary. They're each being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Attorney John Redington said the court appointed him to defend Moore, but he declined to comment on the case. It was not immediately clear if Doyle and Whitmire were represented by attorneys.

Pete Castle said the charges bring him some relief about his son's death, but he still has questions.

"I feel like my son didn't have to get killed over what they were doing," Castle said.

A court hearing for Moore is set for Wednesday. Whitmire and Doyle are scheduled to be in court Thursday, Roe said.

If convicted, the three each could face up to 60 years in prison on the murder charges alone. Home invasion carries a sentencing range of six to 30 years in prison. Residential burglary has a sentencing range of four to 15 years.

[Associated Press]

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