Friend: Fla. Teen Confessed To Murdering Parents At Party
PORT ST. LUCIE (CBS4) – The Port St. Lucie teen accused of killing his parents and then throwing a house party remains in jail while his best friend opens up about a chilling confession.
Michael Mandell, Tyler Hadley's best friend, said when he heard about the party Tyler was hosting Saturday night, he didn't have to think twice about going.
"I got a Facebook invite and I got a call from his dad's cell phone," said Mandell.
Mandell said the fun was just getting going with 40-plus people at the Hadley's home. He described the party as normal, until Mandell said Tyler told him about something gruesome he had done hours earlier.
"After he told me, I didn't believe him because he's been my best friend forever," explained Mandell. "I would never suspect anything like this."
Mandell said his long-time pal confided in him, told him he had taken three ecstasy pills, then murdered his parents and essentially told him to search the home and he'd find the crime scene for himself.
"I opened the door, I saw bloody sheets piled everywhere, I saw broken pictures with blood on them and I looked down and saw his dad's leg," said Mandell. He also explained, "I was in shock, I was sitting down, I didn't know what to do."
Mandell said Tyler didn't seem sad, didn't really give a motive, but told him another shocking confession all while the party was still in full swing.
"He was going to commit suicide, that look on his face; you could see the horror in his face."
Mandell said he had had enough for the night, snapped a photo with Tyler in the garage and walked back to his house and didn't know what to do next.
"I seen it, I heard it from his mouth, and I still don't believe it's real."
Hadley is charged with two counts of second degree murder in the deaths of his parents, Mary Jo and Blake Hadley. Police say they were both bludgeoned to death with a hammer Saturday before Tyler hosted the party for dozens of his friends.
A motive remains unclear.
Investigators went to the home around 4:20 a.m. Sunday after a tip that a 17-year-old had killed his parents. Tyler's parents' bodies were found in their locked bedroom. Police believe Tyler posted information about the party on Facebook before the murders.
In his brief appearance via video conference from jail, the teen glanced downward and calmly replied, "No, sir," when asked by the judge whether he had a lawyer or any questions. He was ordered held without bail and appointed a public defender.
Hadley is being charged as an adult but will not face the death penalty if convicted because of his age.
