A teen charged with arson and murder in the fire that killed two children at her family’s home will be tried as an adult. In denying her attorney’s request to have 17-year-old Tracy Dyess tried in Juvenile court, District Judge Jeffrey A. Larsen said today in Cass County court that lawyers haven’t shown sufficient cause why the case shouldn’t be held in adult court. Dyess is accused of setting the March 31 fire in Griswold, while trying to harm her stepfather, who she said had molested her over three years. The fire instead killed her two younger siblings. The judge said in issuing the ruling that if the case were set to juvenile court, Tracy would not be eligible to stay in the juvenile detention center once she turns 18, on May 31. If a program of treatment were offered to her after that date, Larson said the juvenile court would have no way to detain her if she refused to cooperate. Larson said if Dyess is found guilty of the charges against her, 18 months would not be enough time for rehabilitation.
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