Teacher at detention facility was raped, strangled
Wednesday - 7/28/2010, 3:20pm ET
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - New details in the February murder of a teacher at a state-run juvenile detention center in Prince George's County.
WTOP has learned an autopsy shows Hannah Wheeling, 65, was sexually assaulted, beaten with a hard object and then strangled before her body was found on the grounds of the Cheltenham Youth Facility on Feb. 18.
Sources say Wheeling was last seen alone in a classroom, giving a test to the now 14-year-old suspect, who is not being named because he is a juvenile.
In March, two workers at the facility were fired, and three others were disciplined for deviating from safety protocols, which require youth offenders be kept in line-of-sight by staff members.
The suspect appeared in juvenile court Wednesday, for the equivalent of an arraignment. The judge said the teen was accused of first-degree murder and first-degree rape, but did not specify the other six charges against him.
Sources say Wheeling's body was found in a pile of snow outside a building of the Cheltenham facility. Inside the building, under a stairwell, investigators allegedly found the suspect's bloodstained T-shirt, as well as the victim's pants, pantyhose and cell phone.
The autopsy revealed Wheeling had no injuries to her genitalia, but semen was found in her mouth. Investigators say the DNA matches the suspect.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said he would attempt to prosecute the youth as an adult "because of the nature of the crime."
The suspect's public defender, Alan Wolf, said his office was unaware that his client would be charged Wednesday, but had known the teen was the target of the murder investigation. Wolf would not comment on whether his client is innocent or guilty.
The teen will be back in court Aug. 27 for a hearing on whether he will be tried as a juvenile or an adult. Ivey said other 13-year-olds have been tried for murder in the county.
The judge ordered the youth to remain at another facility in western Maryland, where he has been since the attack.
The State Department of Juvenile Services has beefed up security measures at Cheltenham since the murder. Lighting has been enhanced throughout the campus and security policies have been reviewed.
WTOP's Neal Augenstein is covering this story. Follow him on Twitter.
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