Teenage couple charged in double-murder plot to be tried as adults

3/24/2006

Lucas County Juvenile Court Judge Denise Cubbon today ruled that a teenage couple who allegedly plotted to kill the girl s mother and brother will stand trial as adults.

Devan Fields and Catherine Varner, both 17, are charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The judge transferred their cases to Lucas County Common Pleas Court during a probable cause hearing in juvenile court.

The teens were charged after police said Devan twice stabbed Catherine s 15-year-old brother, hit him with a hammer, choked him with a shoelace, and tried to break his neck with his hands at the family s East Toledo home March 9.

The couple is accused of plotting to kill Catherine s brother and mother so they could live in the family s home on Yondota Street.

The teenagers will be transferred from the county s juvenile detention center to the county jail, where they will be held on $200,000 bonds.

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