Teen charged with murder of teacher

A 15-year-old boy was charged with murder Monday in the killing of a teacher who was beaten, robbed and left for dead at the school where she worked.

Police Chief Lyndon McWhorter said prosecutors would ask a judge to decide whether the teenager can be tried as an adult in the slaying of Judy Jester. The teen's court-appointed defense lawyer, Errek Jett, said he hoped his client wouldn't be treated as an adult in court.

Jester, 55, died Sunday after being removed from life support. Her skull was cracked in the beating Wednesday.

The teenager, an eighth-grader at Lawrence County High School whose name was not released because of his age, was also charged with burglary and robbery.

McWhorter said investigators believe the boy entered the school, where Jester was doing administrative work alone, and beat her unconscious with his fists before rifling through her purse and stealing money.

A group of teens found the teacher after noticing an open door and called police, AP reports.

A. A.