Those who knew Santa Cruz teen shocked at arrest for killing young girl
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KTVU) -- As a steady stream of mourners continued to visit a growing memorial for Maddy Middleton in Santa Cruz Tuesday, KTVU spoke to one man who said he was mourning for both the little girl and the 15-year-old suspect in her murder.
It seems like the entire Santa Cruz community is grieving the death of eight-year-old Maddy Middleton. Mourners bearing flowers, stuffed animals and love have visited the memorial by the apartment complex where her body was found Monday just before 8 p.m. in the dozens and perhaps even hundreds.
Those paying their respects could be seen crossing themselves, hugging each other and leaving mementos in honor of the girl.
"Just wanted to come down, and obviously being parents. He's seven. He's the same age," said Dan Robbins of Scotts Valley, nodding to his son. "We're just trying to... can't even imagine being in those shoes for everyone involved, you know?"
Family friend Kirby Scudder told KTVU that Maddy's mom is devastated.
"Every time any memory of Maddy comes up…it's so hard," said Scudder. "It's just so hard and there are so many of them."
A few people said they knew the suspect, the as yet unnamed 15-year old boy. But one man KTVU spoke with has worked closely with him for years.
"He's my neighbor, he lives a couple doors down," said neighbor Joe Mailloux. He acted as a mentor and music teacher to the boy. "Just a great kid. A role model for all the younger kids. And he worked at the camp here. We're all just shocked because not in a million years could we imagine something like this happening."
Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said investigators have evidence implicating the 15-year-old boy who lived on the third floor above the dumpster where Maddy’s body was found.
"It appears that she was lured to the suspect's apartment willingly," said Vogel during a Tuesday press conference. "Additionally we've determined that Maddy was murdered inside of the suspect's apartment. She was then carried downstairs to the recycle bin where she was concealed within the recycle bin."
Another man, who wanted to remain anonymous, tied the suspect closely to Maddy.
"I'd seen her with that kid dozens of times before. They would walk behind the building and every single time I saw them they seemed happy and friendly together," he said.
That detail spotlights one reason this tragedy is so hard to fathom for everyone here. No one saw it coming.
"There's nothing. No signs. Nothing. Nothing that would even remotely insinuate foul play or the intent for that. So that's why we're in shock," said Mailloux.
The crime was made that much more incomprehensible for the close-knit artist community after the discovery that the suspect not an outsider, but someone within.
"We have two children that we cared a lot about and now they're both gone," said family friend Kirby Scudder. "And so, it's really hard for all of us who care and watched these kids grow up here."
KTVU was told the boy was a student at Mission Hill Middle School, he played the piano, liked pottery, and was accomplished with the yo-yo.
Roxanne Burdick of Santa Cruz, who visited the memorial with her husband and two children, had a chilling message.
"I think that it shows all, our children, that you really have to second guess anyone. And that you should, no matter the age of anybody, you have to think about your safety before you go with anyone," said Burdick.
The boy also worked at the housing complex as a counselor at an artists camp for small kids. That camp is closed this week because of what happened.
The community will experience more heartbreak as the case develops, with some question about the nature of the teen's assault that remain unanswered.
"There do appear to be charges that can be filed as an adult and we are absolutely considering that," said District Attorney Jeff Rosell.
Police said they're awaiting autopsy results to know whether there was any sexual assault. The district attorney plans to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday.