Juvenile court officials confirmed Tuesday they are seeking a petition of first-degree murder against a 15 year old suspect for the killing of nine year old Elizabeth Olten.

A court administrator spoke with reporters today, sharing few details and asking that we withhold the teenager's rumored identity. Court officials outlined where the case against the suspect goes from here.

The case now centers on letting the courts decide if the suspect should stand trial as an adult. At that hearing, Samantha Green, the attorney for the juvenile court and the equivalent of a prosecutor in an adult trial, will present her case and make a recommendation for a juvenile or adult trial. It starts with a closed detention hearing tomorrow which is required to hold a juvenile past one day pending charges and an additional five days allowed by a judge.

After the detention hearing, the court will hold a certification hearing November 18th to determine whether or not to try the suspect as an adult. The court will consider the suspect's age, maturity, sophistication and whether the suspect has a history of violence

The last murder case involving a juvenile suspect in Cole county took place in 2005. In that case, the courts certified a 16 year old as an adult.

Elizabeth Olten disappeared along Route D near St. Martins last Wednesday. Sheriff's deputies found her body Friday. St. Martins is a very small community, so even though officials won't release the identity of the individual charged in the killing, many people have already figured it out.

Michael Couty, director of the Cole county juvenile court pleaded with the media today, "We are asking that until after the certification hearing, that you not release the identity of that individual."

When asked whether the suspect was being held in isolation, Couty replied that the suspect was being held in a manner that would protect other juveniles being held and any staff that worked at the facility.

KOMU 8 News is abiding by the court's wishes at this time. Also, in keeping with our policy not to cover private funerals, we will not cover Elizabeth Olten's funeral Wednesday afternoon.