STORY SUMMARY>>>

A 16 year old boy accused in the murder and rape of his neighbor in May of last year will be tried as an adult after a state judge waived Family Court jurisdiction Tuesday morning.

Vernon Bartley was 15 years old when he allegedly killed Karen Ertell, 51, in her Ewa Beach home. He was charged with first degree murder late Tuesday.

According to court documents, Bartley strangled Ertell to death on the morning of May 25, 2007 after laying in wait in her carport at her Akua Street residence.

Investigators say Bartley confessed to the crime two days after the attack during an interview at the Alder Street Juvenile Detention Facility, while his mother sat by his side.

“When Karen Ertell walked out of her residence, Vernon P. Bartley admitted he attacked her from behind and used a triangle chokehold (which he demonstrated) around Karen Ertell’s neck until she became unresponsive,” wrote police detective Alan Oku Jr. in a sworn affidavit.

According to Oku, Bartley admitted to moving Ertell from the carport and placing her on her bed. The detective said Bartley also confessed to cleaning up blood evidence from the crime scene as well as the victim’s body.

Oku added that the teen confessed to using Ertell’s computer to view pornographic material, which included “sadomasochistic-bondage type pornography.”

Investigators say DNA evidence recovered from a condom found in Ertell’s bathroom trash proves Bartley raped his victim.

In a telephone interview with Ertell’s niece, Holly Dunlap told Khon2 that Tuesday’s ruling that waives Family Court jurisdiction is long overdue.

"He committed a terrible, heinous crime,” she said, “a crime worthy of adult court and I'm encouraged that he will be held to the same laws and consequences that any adult would be held to.”

Investigators say Ertell complained to family members that Bartley had allegedly burglarized her home on multiple occasions, but she elected to settle the matter with the teen’s parents.

After the burglaries continued, Ertell eventually complained to police. She was served a subpoena to testify against Bartley on May 24, 2007 - one day before she was murdered.

After the slaying neighbors in Ertell’s neighborhood learned Bartley was accused of burglarizing other homes in the area. Earl Arakaki was one of many who wrote letters demanding the teen be tried as an adult.

“We've always believed that that would be the right decision for the good of the community,” said Arakaki.

“Everybody was on edge here and we all wrote letters,” added another neighbor, Marge Akana. “We had petitions to try him as an adult - do the crime he got to pay for it.”

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.