Judge: Teen who killed family will remain in state custody until age 21

A Children’s Court judge says the teenager who killed five of his family members in 2013 will remain in state custody until he turns 21.

Nehemiah Griego, now 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death last October.

Griego was 15 when authorities said he shot and killed his parents and three younger siblings in their South Valley home in January 2013.

Children’s Court Judge John Romero ruled Griego was amenable to treatment last month, meaning he would remain in state custody for treatment instead of serving time in prison.

CYFD will rule where Griego will be treated or held for the remainder of his sentence.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg says her office plans to appeal the ruling. A spokeswoman for the DA’s Office said Wednesday it had not yet filed the appeal, however.

Brandenburg released the following statement after Wednesday’s hearing:

“Our office was both shocked and disappointed in the court’s ruling to sentence Nehemiah Griego as a juvenile. We believe that his release at the age of 21 does not serve justice for our community as a whole, nor for the deaths of his five family members. Appealing this decision is critical, as we believe existing case law supports that Griego be sentenced as an adult. That matter will be ongoing, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General.”

This story was originally published at KOB.com