Teen accused of killing 8-year-old Maddy Middleton back in court
A Santa Cruz teen accused of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in 2015 was back in court.
Tuesday, 18-year-old Adrian Gonzalez was expected to be arraigned, but the judge granted a continuance after the defense filed a writ to appeal Gonzalez being tried as an adult.
Gonzalez allegedly lured his neighbor, 8-year-old Maddy Middleton into his apartment at the Tannery Arts Center on July 26, 2015. Maddy was last seen that day riding her scooter around the complex.
On July 27, Maddy’s body was found in a recycling bin at the complex.
An autopsy revealed that the girl died from asphyxiation and stab wounds to her neck, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Gonzalez will be back in court on March 26. If convicted he could spend life in prison.
