Santa Cruz teen to be tried as adult in murder of Madyson Middleton

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KTVU) - A teenager from Santa Cruz accused of killing an 8-year-old girl two years ago will be tried as an adult, a judge decided Tuesday.

Adrian Gonzalez was 15 when he was arrested for the killing of Madyson Middleton.

Gonzalez is accused of luring her into his mother's apartment, and then raping and stabbing her to death.

Her body was later found in a nearby recycling bin.

Police say Gonzalez confessed during taped interviews.

The trial had been delayed due to an act approved by voters that was an effort to improve the judicial process. In the fall of 2016 voters approved Proposition 57, which passed with nearly 65 percent of the vote.

The measure in part mandates that juveniles accused of a crime receive a special transfer hearing to determine if they should be tried in adult or juvenile court.

Now that a judge decided Gonzalez will be tried as an adult, his first hearing is scheduled for November 28. 

If convicted, Gonzalez could get life in prison.