Ares Adle, a 14-year-old from Arizona, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the murder of his aunt, Tonya Harper, in 2019. The incident took place at her home near Chandler Heights and Alma School Roads. During the sentencing on Thursday, family members spoke emotionally. One said, "She was taken away in a place that she thought she would be safe." Another family member said, "I just feel like there’s more mental issues that were not considered, and I feel like there's a different place for him rather than a prison," according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Adle spoke in court after his sentencing, saying, "I never wanted to hurt anyone in my family. I just made a mistake and I couldn’t control it." He also expressed regret, saying he’s been sorry every day since the incident. During the hearing, new evidence was shown, including a video call where Adle seemed to mock his sentencing. The court also heard about Adle's past, including allegations of animal abuse and sexual abuse. Detective Shonci Hawkins from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office discussed his previous actions and behavior, as per FOX 10 Phoenix and Arizona's Family.
Adle's mental health was a major point in his case. His mother said, "We’re happy the judge saw the mental health and for all intents and purposes that Ares is a good person," while his wife added, "I feel like my husband needs help, not 25 years in a closet, a 4x4 closet. He needs help from doctors." However, Harper's sister, Sophia Evans, said, "He killed Tonya. He stole a piece of all of us, and destroyed our family. Ares is the devil himself walking amongst us." The judge gave Adle a sentence on the lower end of the 10 to 25-year range, considering his mental health, leaving both families deeply hurt, as stated by Arizona's Family.
