A 16-year-old boy accused of killing an Ewa Beach woman was indicted yesterday and faces spending the rest of his life in prison.

    Teen Indicted In Ewa Beach Neighbor's Murder  

 

 

The suspect, 16 year old Vernon Bartley could go to prison for the rest of his life.

 

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  Vernon Bartley was indicted with first- and second-degree murder, second-degree sexual assault, robbery, burglary, auto theft and other felonies related to credit card and identity theft.

Bartley was 15 when he allegedly raped and strangled his neighbor, 51-year-old Karen Ertell, on May 25, 2007. Family Court jurisdiction was waived in his case.

Bartley is charged with first-degree murder because Ertell was subpoenaed to be a witness in a prior burglary trial against him.

“;We have to prove that he knew she was a witness and that the killing was related to her status as a witness,”; said First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin.

Chin said the possible sentence of life without parole reflects the seriousness of the first-degree murder charge.

“;If you murder someone that's involved in the process ... the community has a real high standard in that they want to make sure those people are protected,”; he said. “;The system cannot work if our police officers, judges and our witnesses are being killed.”;

Bartley is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The teenager is accused of strangling Ertell after he “;lay in wait”; in her Ewa Beach home's carport.

Police allege that after strangling her, Bartley used Ertell's computer to view pornography, then took her credit cards and cash, her telephone, iPod and car. He also told police he used Ertell's bank card to take out money from her account.

Bartley denies raping Ertell, but police said they found a used condom in the home with Bartley's DNA on the inside and Ertell's DNA on the outside.