A Hendersonville teen accused of killing his mother in their home faced a judge for the first time this morning.
    This appearance was a detention hearing - to see whether or not the teen would be kept in custody.
      Fox 17 has the judge's decision and why he also ordered a mental evaluation.
The 15 year old accused of killing his mother Melanie Davis was seen leaving the courtroom... His name not released because he is not being tried as an adult...
    District Attorney General Ray Whitley hopes that will change...
Whitley says, “This is a serious a case as you can imagine we've got him charged with 1st degree murder aggravated arson and attempted 1st degree murder so if he were to remain in juvenile court the juvenile court would only have control of him until he became 19 years old.”
In the hearing the teen was dressed in a black and white jail suit and flip flops -- he had a very somber demeanor as he whispered "Yes sir" after being read his rights.
    A much different description than what the Sheriff described after his arrest.
    The Sheriff said the teen smiled while confessing to beating his mother to death.
    The defense argues that should never have been released.
 Randy Lucas, “I don't want to see a rush to judgment this is a young man who has been charged with extremely serious crimes and there is a lot more going on in this family than meets the eye at this point.”
The judge decided the teen will stay in custody in Sumner County for the next two days while undergoing a mental evaluation
    Whitley says, “The mental evaluation will be a big part of it and there will be facts brought out by the state as to why he should be charged as an adult.”
    The defense argues he will never have a chance for rehabilitation if the teen is tried as an adult
Lucas says, “Juvenile has a primary obligation of rehabilitation in adult we don't do anything but punish - he would go to prison- period the end that is not what a 14 year old needs.”
The teen will be transferred to the Murfreesboro Juvenile Center after the evaluation which is better equipped to handle long term incarceration of teens.
After the teen is transferred he will be held in Murfreesboro until another court appearance on September 15th.
     The Melanie Davis fund has been set up at Sumner Bank and Trust- donations can be made at any branch.
Hendersonville Teen Faces Judge