Teen Charged in Grandmother Murder
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A third teenage girl is to be tried as an adult in the robbery and beating death of a St. Louis grandmother. In a hearing yesterday 15-year-old Jessica Shelton was certified to face adult charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and stealing. She and two other girls are accused of killing 62-year-old Joann Foster, a retired teacher who often befriended youngsters. Fifteen-year-old Rachel Gant and 13-year-old Tyreshia Bateman were certified as adults in April. The teens are accused of beating Foster with a fire extinguisher and a statue. The woman's body was found December 19th, when her ex-husband went to her home and found the door unlocked. The girls were arrested eleven days later after being linked to the crime by property taken from Foster's home. The trials are scheduled to begin in July.