Charges: Teen Beats Man To Death, Says He Was Molested For Years
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 16-year-old Moorhead boy is accused of beating a 55-year-old man -- who he says molested him for years -- to death over the weekend, according to charges filed in Clay County.
On Wednesday, Zachary St. Claire was charged as an adult with first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree murder with intent but not premeditated in connection to the death.
According to the criminal complaint, police in Moorhead were dispatached to the north Moorhead Mobile Manor trailer court late Sunday morning on the report of a possible dead body. When they arrived, they located the deceased man, identified as Bradley William Carrington.
A detective noted at the time that there was apparent trauma to the face and head of Carrington, and it appeared to be an unnatural death.
Witnesses in the area told police that St. Claire, and possibly others, had been seen at the victim's trailer the night prior.
After police located St. Claire and contacted him, he and his mother agreed to voluntarily come to the police department for an interview. During the interview, St. Claire reported that he had been molested by Carrington for the past three to four years, and had thought about killing him in the past, the complaint said.
St. Claire told police he was drinking alcohol with Carrington Saturday night and saw an opportunity to kill him. He then allegedly punched and kicked the victim in the face several times, killing him, and then left.
St. Claire was arrested and took him to the Juvenile Detention Center in Moorhead.
If convicted, St. Claire faces up to 40 years in prison per charge. His bail has been set to $1 million with conditions and $500,000 without conditions.
2nd Suspect Arrested In Connection To The Beating Death
According to Moorhead police, the second suspect in the incident, 20-year-old Anthony Lee Rodriguez, was taken into custody without incident shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday in Fargo, North Dakota. He is being held in Cass County pending extradition to Clay County.
The investigation is ongoing.