Kids Who Committed Unthinkable Crimes and Walk Free Today

There’s an eerie kind of silence that settles in when you learn that a child has stepped into territory most adults would never dare touch. It clashes with everything we associate with being young. Childhood is expected to be full of harmless adventures, scraped elbows, lunchbox trades, and that wide-eyed feeling of learning the world for the first time.

So when a story surfaces about a kid whose life veered into something dark and irreversible, it shakes the ground beneath that idea. It creates a kind of disbelief that lingers, because the image of a child in a courtroom never quite fits into place.

Behind these stories often lies a trail of hardship that started long before anything made headlines. Many of these kids came from homes where fights echoed louder than lullabies, where stability was something other families seemed to have, and where the adults they needed most were often absent or overwhelmed.

Some wrestled with mental health conditions that went untreated, misunderstood, or ignored until it was too late. A few were so young that even investigators struggled to understand how much they truly grasped. Others, disturbingly, showed a level of planning that left seasoned experts uneasy.

What happened afterward was never one single pattern. Some grew up, faced what they’d done, and attempted to rebuild quiet lives far from the chaos of their past. Others couldn’t escape the same cycles that shaped them and eventually returned to custody.

Each case carries its own weight, raising unsettling questions about upbringing, trauma, and the fragile line between childhood innocence and choices that change lives forever.

1. Amarjeet Sada

According to a 2008 report from The Guardian, Amarjeet Sada was linked to the deaths of three infants, including two from his own family. Only eight years old at the time, the boy lived in Bihar, one of India’s poorest regions, where his case left villagers stunned and terrified.

Sada reportedly confessed to strangling a six-month-old baby in the village of Musahari. He later led locals to the area where he had buried the child’s body. The confession raised darker questions, as he was also believed to have taken the lives of his eight-month-old sister and nine-month-old cousin.

Many villagers suspected that his family had quietly concealed the earlier incidents, hoping to avoid attention or legal consequences, until the third tragedy forced the truth into the open.

Authorities placed Sada in a juvenile home in Munger, where he remained until his release in 2016 after turning 18. Police later stated that he struggled with serious psychiatric issues, and a psychologist described him as a child who gained pleasure from causing harm, according to NDTV.

NDTV

2. Mitchell Johnson

In 1998, Westside Middle School in Arkansas became the site of a devastating attack when students Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden opened fire, killing five people and injuring ten others. Johnson was 13, and Golden was just 11.

The boys were arrested while trying to flee and were later convicted on five counts of murder. The prosecutor at the time remarked that if they had been older, he would have pursued capital punishment.

Because of Arkansas law, both were required to be released on their 21st birthdays. Johnson left the Federal Correctional Institution in Memphis in 2005 after serving seven years. Golden followed in 2007 after nine years behind bars.

Life after release took very different turns. Johnson repeatedly found himself in trouble with the law. Over the years, he was convicted on charges involving illegal substances, weapons possession, theft, and financial identity fraud. He completed his federal sentence in 2015.

Golden also attempted to rebuild his life but faced obstacles of his own. In 2008, he applied for a concealed-carry permit, but Arkansas State Police denied the request after determining he wasn’t truthful about previous addresses and was legally prohibited from owning firearms.

In 2019, at 33 years old, Golden died in a car crash near Cave City when another vehicle swerved into his lane.

Across The Table

3. Curtis Fairchild Jones

Curtis Fairchild Jones was only 12 when he entered the criminal justice system, becoming one of the youngest people in the United States to be sentenced as an adult. He spent nearly a decade behind bars before his release in July 2015 at age 21.

The tragedy began in 1999, when Curtis and his older sister, Catherine, fatally shot their father’s girlfriend, Sonya Nicole Speights. Investigators later learned the siblings had also planned to harm their father and a male relative, whom they accused of ongoing abuse. After the shooting, the two children ran into the nearby woods and hid through the night until Brevard County deputies eventually located them.

Prosecutors charged the siblings as adults. Both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and accepted sentences of 18 years, followed by lifetime probation. At the time, officials dismissed their claims of abuse, but investigators from what is now the Department of Children and Families uncovered evidence that supported what the children had been saying.

Catherine Jones was released in July 2015 at age 30, the same month her younger brother regained his freedom.

Florida Today

Understanding Juvenile Delinquency

Dr. Richard E. Redding, a leading expert on juvenile justice, emphasizes that understanding the psychological development of children is crucial when assessing their actions. He notes that children often lack the emotional maturity to fully grasp the consequences of their actions, which can lead to unthinkable behavior.

Research indicates that factors such as trauma, exposure to violence, and mental health issues significantly contribute to juvenile delinquency. Redding suggests implementing early intervention programs that focus on counseling and support rather than punishment to address these underlying issues effectively.

It's essential to recognize that many children who commit crimes often come from challenging backgrounds. Dr. Bruce Perry, a child psychiatrist, emphasizes that understanding the neurodevelopmental impact of trauma is vital in addressing these behaviors.

Perry suggests that implementing trauma-informed practices in educational settings can help create a more understanding environment. This can facilitate healing and allow at-risk children to thrive, ultimately reducing the likelihood of future criminal activity.

4. Jake Eakin

Jake Eakin was just 12 years old when he became linked to one of Washington’s most disturbing juvenile cases. Investigators said he and another boy, 12-year-old Evan Savoie, beat and fatally stabbed 13-year-old Craig Sorger, a developmentally disabled teen they had spent the afternoon with at a park in Ephrata.

Sorger’s body was found on February 15, 2003, and the investigation quickly turned toward the two boys who had been with him. Their stories didn’t match, and police noted that Sorger’s blood was found on both of their clothes. Despite insisting they were innocent, Savoie was charged with first-degree murder and Eakin with second-degree murder. Savoie’s mother criticized the ruling at the time, calling the judge biased.

Eakin eventually accepted a plea deal and agreed to testify against his co-defendant. He received a 14-year sentence. Savoie was given 26 years, though that sentence was later reduced to 20 on appeal.

Eakin was released in 2017. Since then, he has become an outspoken anti-abortion activist but has also faced new legal issues, including a trespassing arrest in 2018 and a larceny arrest in 2022. Savoie, who later admitted to the killing after a decade, was released from prison in 2023.

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5. Cristian Fernandez

Cristian Fernandez was just 12 when he entered the juvenile justice system, pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated battery. His case drew attention not only because of his age but also because of the difficult childhood he had endured long before any charges were filed.

Cristian grew up in a home marked by instability from the very beginning. His early years were shaped by situations no child should face, leaving him without the guidance or safety he needed. Neighbors and relatives later described a household where support was scarce and emotional strain was constant.

In March 2011, Cristian was arrested in Jacksonville after his 2-year-old half-brother, David Galarraga, suffered fatal injuries. Authorities said the toddler had been beaten and struck against a bookshelf. He passed away two days later. Cristian’s mother, Biannela Susana, waited nearly eight hours before getting help for the unconscious child, leading to her own charge of aggravated manslaughter.

Cristian remained in a Department of Juvenile Justice facility during his teenage years. A judge arranged for his release to come the day after his 19th birthday in 2018. Once he regained his freedom, he began an eight-year probation period, stepping into adulthood still carrying the weight of a childhood filled with trauma and a tragedy that changed his life forever.

FloridaTimes

6. Terrence Sampson

In 1989, the quiet suburb of Leander, near Austin, Texas, was shaken by the death of 13-year-old Kelly Brumbelow, an athletic and well-liked girl whose life ended at the hands of someone she considered a friend. Kelly had been playing basketball in her driveway with 12-year-old neighbor Terrence Sampson when her mother called her inside.

According to her mother, Sampson seemed convinced Kelly was making an excuse to ditch him. Determined to “prove” it, he went home and called her house to check if he’d get a busy signal. Kelly picked up — but what Sampson didn’t realize was that her phone had call waiting, letting her switch between calls. Believing he’d been lied to, he invited her over, saying he had a surprise for her.

When Kelly arrived, Sampson attacked her, fatally stabbing her several times in the head and face. The community was left stunned by the brutality and by the age of the attacker.

Sampson was given the maximum juvenile sentence and sent to the Giddings State School. He was paroled in 2019. Now a father of two, he has publicly expressed remorse for what he did and has apologized to Kelly’s family.

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Many experts stress that prevention and early intervention are key in guiding at-risk youth away from criminal behavior. Programs like those developed by Dr. Ross Greene advocate for collaborative problem-solving strategies that empower children to express their feelings and needs.

By fostering a supportive environment that encourages open communication, parents and educators can play a pivotal role in preventing future delinquency. Greene's model highlights the importance of understanding the underlying issues that lead to problematic behaviors, which can lead to more constructive outcomes.

7. Eric M. Smith

In 2022, Eric M. Smith walked out of a correctional facility after serving 28 years for the killing of 4-year-old Derrick Robie, a case that once gripped the nation with its brutality and the age of the perpetrator.

Smith was 13 in 1993 when he lured Derrick into a wooded area near the child’s home in Savona, western New York. There, he fatally struck him with a rock. The crime shocked the community, and Smith was soon convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to nine years to life.

During his parole hearing decades later, Smith reflected on the anger and emotional turmoil he felt as a bullied child, saying it played a role in shaping his actions. “After years of reflection, looking at who I was then and what was going on, I essentially became the bully that I disliked in everything else in my life,” he told the board, according to the Associated Press.

His release marked the end of a long period of incarceration, but the case remains one that many still remember with unease.

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8. Morgan Geyser And Anissa Weier

Morgan Geyser and her friend Anissa Weier were only 12 when they carried out an attack that stunned the country. Believing they needed to prove loyalty to the fictional figure Slender Man, the girls lured their friend, Payton Leutner, into a wooded park in a Milwaukee suburb after a sleepover in 2014 and stabbed her multiple times.

Payton survived thanks to a passing cyclist who found her and got help in time.

Prosecutors charged the girls with attempted intentional homicide, and the case was moved to adult court due to the severity of the attack. Both were eventually found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and sent to psychiatric facilities for long-term treatment.

Weier received a 25-year-to-life commitment, while Geyser received a 40-year-to-life commitment. Weier was released in 2021. Geyser followed this year, moving into a supervised group home as part of her release conditions.

But more than a decade after the attack, the story took another turn. At 22, Geyser allegedly removed her court-ordered monitoring bracelet and left the group home in Madison, Wisconsin. Authorities say she traveled by bus with another adult to Posen, Illinois. On November 23, she was found at a truck stop and taken back into custody along with the person she was traveling with.

KTLA

9. Edwin Debrow

In 1991, 12-year-old Edwin Debrow Jr. was arrested for the killing of San Antonio taxi driver Curtis Edwards, a crime that shocked the community and set the course of his life for decades to come.

Debrow’s childhood had already been shaped by instability. He spent much of his early life on the streets, surrounded by adults battling addiction and older peers who were deeply involved in criminal activity. By the time he was arrested, he had already been pulled into a world far beyond his years.

Bexar County sentenced him to 27 years. Because he was a juvenile, he became eligible for release at 18, but even he admits he wasn’t ready for freedom at that age. “At 18, I wouldn’t have been a changed person,” he later said.

During his time in prison, Debrow worked to rebuild himself. He earned his GED, took college courses, and learned computer skills, crediting those programs for giving him a chance to grow. “This stuff works, if you want it to work. There are some people who want to change, and some who don’t,” he said.

Debrow was finally released in 2019 at age 40. Once he completes his parole, he says he plans to visit the grave of Curtis Edwards.

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The Role of Environment in Behavior

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, a pediatrician and advocate for children's health, highlights the significant impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on behavior. Her research indicates that children exposed to trauma are more likely to engage in risky behaviors as they grow.

Harris advocates for trauma-informed care in schools and communities, which trains educators and staff to recognize signs of trauma and respond appropriately. By creating safe, supportive environments, communities can help mitigate the impacts of ACEs, reducing the likelihood of children engaging in serious criminal activities.

10. Danny And Ricky Preddie

Danny and Ricky Preddie were found guilty of manslaughter in 2006 after forensic evidence tied them to the killing of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor, a case that haunted Britain for years.

Damilola had recently moved from Nigeria with hopes of a brighter future. On his way home from the local library in Peckham in November 2000, he was attacked and stabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle. He collapsed in a stairwell and was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries shortly after.

At the time of the crime, the Preddie brothers were 12 and 13 years old and associated with the Peckham Boys, a local criminal group. After a long investigative process and multiple trials, they were each sentenced to eight years in custody for manslaughter.

Danny Preddie was released in September 2011 after serving five years. Ricky, who was freed on parole in September 2010, was sent back to prison just 16 days later for violating the terms of his release. He had been spotted in Southwark, south London, and seen associating with known criminals — both prohibited under his license. Reports later indicated he was released again in 2012.

Metropolitan Police

11. Mary Bell

Mary Bell was just a day shy of her 11th birthday when she strangled 4-year-old Martin Brown on May 25, 1968, inside an abandoned house in Scotswood, England. The case rattled the community, not only because of the victim’s age but because the person responsible was a child herself.

Soon after, Mary and her friend Norma broke into a nearby nursery school, leaving behind handwritten notes that claimed responsibility for the killing and threatened more harm. Investigators assumed the messages were a childish prank and didn’t take them seriously.

That changed two months later. On July 31, 1968, 3-year-old Brian Howe was found lifeless. He had been strangled, and evidence quickly pointed toward the same pair of girls. This time, authorities listened.

During the trial, Mary’s troubled upbringing came to light. She had endured severe neglect and, according to reports, suffered abuse at the hands of her mother. Experts described her actions as being driven by a desire for excitement and control. She was ultimately diagnosed with psychopathic personality disorder and convicted of manslaughter. Norma, who was 13, was viewed as a vulnerable bystander influenced by Mary and was acquitted.

Mary Bell served 12 years and was released at 23. Now 68, she has lived in anonymity ever since.

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12. Robert Thompson

Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were only 10 years old when they carried out one of the most heartbreaking crimes in modern British history. In 1993, they took the life of 2-year-old James Bulger in Merseyside, England, in a case that stunned the world with its brutality and the age of those responsible.

The boys led James away from the New Strand Shopping Centre while he was out with his mother. They brought him to a secluded area, where they inflicted severe injuries before killing him. His body was found two days later on a railway line in Liverpool. Investigators later revealed that the pair had placed him on the tracks in an attempt to make it look like an accidental death caused by a passing train.

Thompson and Venables were found guilty of abduction and murder, becoming the youngest individuals in modern Britain to be convicted of such a crime. In 2001, the Parole Board recommended their release on life license, meaning they could live under new identities with strict conditions once they turned 18.

Years later, Venables returned to custody. In 2017, he was arrested again after authorities discovered child abuse material on his computer.

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Experts in child psychology underscore the importance of family dynamics in shaping a child's behavior. Dr. John Bowlby, known for his attachment theory, argues that strong, secure attachments in early life can help prevent delinquency.

Parenting interventions that focus on building strong emotional bonds can lead to positive outcomes. For instance, programs that teach parents effective communication and emotional support strategies can significantly reduce the likelihood of children engaging in criminal behavior as they grow older.

13. Jasmine Richardson

Jasmine Richardson was only 12 when she and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Jeremy Steinke, carried out a crime that stunned Canada. The pair fatally attacked her entire family inside their Medicine Hat home in Alberta, leaving the community shaken and searching for answers.

Richardson had developed a troubling fascination with notorious serial offenders like Jeffrey Dahmer. After she began a relationship with Steinke, her bond with her parents sharply declined. Though they tried to cut off the relationship, she continued to sneak out at night and kept in contact with him online.

In the weeks leading up to the crime, Steinke posted disturbing messages on his blog about harming Richardson’s parents. Investigators later found that Richardson had also played a central role in planning the attack, writing to him, “It begins with me k*lling them and ends with me living with you.”

In 2006, the two followed through with the plan. Jasmine’s parents, Marc and Debra Richardson, along with her 8-year-old brother, Tyler Jacob, were killed in the family home.

Richardson was later diagnosed with conduct disorder and received the maximum youth sentence: ten years, which included four years in a psychiatric institution. She completed her sentence on May 6, 2016. Steinke was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 and will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.

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14. Paul Gingerich

Paul Henry Gingerich was only 12 when he became involved in a crime that would shake the small community of Cromwell, Indiana. In 2010, he and his 15-year-old friend, Colt Lundy, took part in the fatal shooting of Lundy’s stepfather, Phil Danner.

Investigators said both boys fired two shots each. Court records revealed that Lundy had planned the attack, reportedly after enduring verbal and physical abuse from his stepfather when he drank. On April 20, 2010, Gingerich climbed through the window of Lundy’s bedroom. Inside the home, the boys took two firearms Danner kept in the house and waited for him in the living room. According to testimony, Danner managed only a startled “What the f**k?” before the boys opened fire.

Lundy and Gingerich were charged with murder, but six months later they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. Both received 25-year sentences.

Gingerich was released in 2017, and his case helped inspire Indiana’s “Paul’s Law,” which gives judges more flexibility when sentencing juveniles. Lundy was later approved to finish his sentence on home detention beginning March 15, 2019.

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15. Bailey Junior Kurariki

In 2001, 12-year-old Bailey Junior Kurariki became the youngest person in New Zealand history to be convicted of manslaughter after taking part in the robbery and killing of pizza delivery driver Michael Richard Choy in Auckland.

On September 12 of that year, Kurariki and a group of teenagers set up a plan to ambush Choy. The group attacked him with a baseball bat, robbed him of his cash, and stole the pizzas he was delivering.

Two older teens, Whatarangi Rawiri and Alexander Tokorua Peihopa, were found responsible for orchestrating the assault and received life sentences for murder. Kurariki, who played a lesser role but was still directly involved, received a manslaughter conviction and was released on parole in 2008.

His release drew strong emotions from the victim’s family, especially Choy’s mother, Rita Croskery, who questioned whether he was truly ready to reenter society. “They say in the last month, he has made amazing progress. I just sincerely hope that they are right, but it seems pretty amazing all right that he can change so suddenly,” she said at the time.

Concerns grew more serious when Kurariki was sent back to prison in 2009 for violating parole rules. In 2011, he was convicted of domestic violence and sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Lawrence Smith

Addressing Mental Health Needs

Mental health plays a crucial role in understanding juvenile crime. Dr. Judith Cohen, a child psychiatrist, emphasizes that untreated mental health issues can lead to destructive behaviors in children.

She advocates for comprehensive mental health services that are accessible and tailored to meet the needs of at-risk youth. Implementing school-based mental health programs can provide early support and intervention, equipping children with coping skills and resilience that can steer them away from crime.

These cases linger in the public imagination because they confront us with a truth most people would rather avoid. Childhood doesn’t always shield a person from darkness, and some young minds take paths that even seasoned investigators struggle to understand. For every individual who grows older, reflects, and tries to rebuild, there are others who continue to stumble under the weight of the choices they made so young.

What remains are stories that blur the line between tragedy, fear, and uneasy fascination. They force us to think about the environments children grow up in, the warning signs adults miss, and the systems responsible for guiding them. And while each case is different, they all leave behind the same unsettling question. What shapes a child into someone capable of violence, and how many lives change forever in the aftermath?

Professional Assessment & Guidance

Addressing the complex issues surrounding juvenile crime requires a multifaceted approach. By integrating insights from psychology, education, and community services, we can better understand these children's behaviors and the factors influencing them.

Experts like Dr. Richard E. Redding and Dr. Nadine Burke Harris advocate for early intervention and trauma-informed care, which can significantly mitigate the risk of delinquency. As communities, we must prioritize supportive environments that promote healing, resilience, and growth, enabling children to navigate their challenges positively.