A Hendersonville teen accused of killing his mother will now be tried as an
adult.
Today we are getting our first
look at the teen and learning new details about the horrific crime he allegedly
committed.
There was a lot on the line at a court hearing today...
Potentially Zach Davis could have been
released in as little as two years if he were not tried as an adult.

With that at stake, the transfer hearing took about three hours...
And when he left the courtroom, it was determined 15 year old Zachary Davis
would be tried as an adult for allegedly murdering of his mother 46 year old
Melanie Davis on august 10th.
Ray Whitley
says, “It was a horrific murder and the judge made the observation that it was a
very savage murder and the defendant Zachary Davis could not be handled in
juvenile court.”
During the hearing the Sumner county attorney
general called detectives to the stand who testified about the crime
scene.
Ray Whitley says, “The allegations in the juvenile petitions
are that she was asleep and that he came in and murdered her with a sledge
hammer and then set the house on fire while his brother was lying
asleep.”
Before he ruled, Judge Barry Brown stated in his 26 years he
has not seen a crime of this magnitude.
The defense released a
statement saying the decision makes Zachary Davis another victim in this tragic
story.
It said after Davis' father's illness and death, “Zack sent
up every possible red flag a nine-year-old is able to articulate that he was
depressed, disturbed, and sliding into a chasm of despair and frustration. And
yet, he was failed at every turn by the school system, the child welfare system,
the family and society."
During the hearing the judge acknowledged
Davis had emotional and mental problems and considered whether Davis' case
should remain in juvenile court.
But judge brown ruled the teen was
competent to stand trial.
The judge decided that while he will be tried as an
adult it was in Zachary Davis' best interest that he is held without bond in the
Murfreesboro juvenile detention center.
The attorney general believes
an indictment in criminal court will be released the second week of October.
Sumner County Teen To Be Tried As An Adult- Erica Shaffer