In the death of his younger stepsister, a Michigna teen has been charged with murder.
Jameion Peterson, 14, was arraigned on one count of open murder by Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner late Wednesday afternoon. The charge includes both first- and second-degree murder, which are both life offenses, though a first-degree conviction carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Peterson has been charged as an adult, and Michigan state law requires that any juvenile convicted of first- or second-degree murder be sentenced as an adult.
Fichtner refused to grant Peterson bond.
The charge against Peterson stems from the murder of his 10-year-old stepsister, Na’Mylah J. Turner-Moore. Na’Mylah was reported missing from a residence in the 800 block of South 12th Street around 6:15 a.m., according to authorities. on Tuesday, August 30th Officers discovered Na’Myla’s body in an abandoned, weedy lot within the same block, near the intersection of South 12th and Annesley streets, during a search of the neighborhood.
The residence where Na’Mylah ended up going missing is owned by Peterson’s father, though court documents show Peterson living in another apartment in the city.
According to Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson, Peterson’s dad called Na’Myla’s biological father early Tuesday morning to see if she was at his house nearby. Na’Myla’s father responded that she was not, and he then call the police to report her missing, according to Stevenson.
Stevenson did not say how Na’Mylah died, referencing pending autopsy results which should be available within two months. “At this point, it appears no dangerous weapon was involved,” he said. He also stated that there is no evidence that Na’Mylah was sexually assaulted.
Stevenson added that neither child’s father appears to have done anything wrong. Na’Myla’s mom was not present at the South 12th Street residence when her daughter vanished.
Na’Myla attended Saginaw’s Stone Elementary School.
Detectives from the Michigan State Police and the Saginaw Police Department investigated her death.
“With how fast they solved this, especially with such a tragic crime against a 10-year-old, it shows how well the Michigan State Police and Saginaw Police Department work hand-in-hand,” Stevenson said.
“This is very, very sad situation,” added Saginaw Police Chief Robert M. Ruth. “Anytime a 10-year-old is murdered by another family member, it’s just terrible.”
