12-Yr-Boy Pleads Guilty to Murdering Beloved Hometown Softball Star| Crime Alert 8AM 05.01.25

A teenager from Florida is facing the possibility of spending decades behind bars after admitting guilt to a murder he committed when he was only 12 years old, according to court documents. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alart hourly update breaking crime news Now.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Nicole Parton. A teenager from Florida is facing the
possibility of spending decades behind bars after admitting guilt to
a murder he committed when he was only twelve years old.
Now fourteen, Christopher Adkins entered a guilty plea of first
degree murder, armed robbery, and tampering with evidence in connection
with the twenty twenty three murder of sixteen year old

(00:26):
Leila Silvernail. This is reported by Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV.
Adkins could be sentenced to anywhere from forty years to
life in prison. Adkins, along with two people Robertson seventeen
and Taj Bruton, aged sixteen, were also implicated in the
deaths of seventeen year old Michael Hodo Junior and sixteen

(00:49):
year old Camille Quarrels. Although Adkins is only charged in
the case of Silvernall's murder, both Robinson and Bruton face
charges in all three cases and are set to go
to cher trial in July. As part of his plea agreement,
Atkins is required to testify against his friend. As previously reported,
Robinson faces multiple charges, including three counts of first degree murder,

(01:13):
three counts of armed robbery, and one count of tampering
with evidence. Brutan is charged with three counts of first
degree murder and armed robbery, carjacking, and aggravated assault. Authorities
revealed that the victims were discovered fatally shot in various
locations throughout the community located in central Florida. Silvernell, who

(01:33):
had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, was found
unconscious near a dumpster on March thirty, twenty twenty three,
and later died from her injuries at a nearby hospital.
The following day, Hoto was found shot on the side
of the road, also shot in the back of the head.
Quarrel's body was found on April one in the trunk
of Silvernell's car, having been shot twice. Prosecutors noted in

(01:56):
an arrest affidavit that Quarrels was murdered while he was
in the trunk. In a response to speculation, Marion County
Sheriff Don Billy stated during a press conference that Silvernall
quote was there of her own free wheel the night
of the incident. Based on the interviews and phone records.
He indicated that the suspects were engaged in burglaries and robberies.

(02:17):
He referred to them as a lick. While the sheriff
mentioned there were no specific evidence indicating a gang rivalry
was involved in the murders, he did acknowledge that all
three suspects had gang affiliations.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
They took a life without thought.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
The community recently paid tribute to Silvernall, describing her as
a team player and an exceptional athlete in the Southeastern
Fast Pitch Softball League. A GoFundMe page highlighted her passion
for the sport, noting she was a talented pitcher who
could play any position her team needed. She lifted her teammates' spirits.
Her life was cut short and she will be deeply missed,

(02:56):
her family said well. Crime and Justice news after that
a Wisconsin mother has been sentenced for neglecting her five
children to the point that they were so severely malnourished
they fell to the lowest weight percentile below the first percent.

(03:18):
Dasha Turner, thirty five, received a six year prison sentence
after pleading guilty to three counts of child neglect that
resulted in significant bodily harm. As detailed in court records,
one of each for her children. Prosecutors dropped two counts
as part of the plea deal. After serving her time,
Turner will be on probation for nine years. In July,

(03:40):
police and Racine, located about thirty miles southeast of Milwaukee
near Lake Michigan, conducted a welfare check at Turner's residence
following concerns raised by the landlord about the children's safety.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered the children, ages fourteen
months to fourteen years, living in an unfinished basement with

(04:01):
no food or bathroom. The only window was obscured by
purple paint. As described in the arrest report, four of
the children were crammed into a single twin air mattress
in one room, while the fifth child slept in another room.
All five appeared frail, lethargic, and unkept, according to the complaint.
A prosecutor highlighted the dire situation during Turner's initial court appearance,

(04:26):
saying there's complete negligence and abuse. These children were malnourished,
below the average weight, below to the point of being
in the zero point one percentile. Reports indicate that at
least one child exhibited signs of abuse. Another had been
struck with a belt by a man living with Turner.

(04:46):
That individual, thirty four year old la Queen Russell, faces
charges of child abuse. One of the children, the fourteen
year old, reportedly just weighed fifty four pounds.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was the medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
Happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.

(05:23):
For an in depth look at the facts, see What
Happened to Ellen? On Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
For the latest crime injustice news, you can follow crime
Alert hourly update on your favorite podcasting app with this
crime Alert. I'm Nicole Parton.