http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-girl-stabbed1116nov16.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines

8-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Home

By Associated Press

November 16, 2001, 2:16 PM EST

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- A 13-year-old boy was held for investigation of murder in the stabbing death of his 8-year-old sister at the family home.

The motive in the death of Samantha Rickards was unclear, police Lt. Jerry Dodd said.

Her brother was being held on $500,000 bail. The boy has not been formally charged. Prosecutors have until Monday to decide on charges.

"He doesn't have any prior contact with law enforcement," prosecutor Tom Verge said. "This was not a problem kid, to my knowledge. This is not a situation where we're going to hear someone say, 'Yeah, we predicted this."'

The boy called 911 Wednesday saying his sister needed help. Paramedics found the girl dead, stabbed repeatedly with a knife inside the home in this town about 50 miles north of Seattle.

The children lived with their mother, who was away at the time. A knife was found at the scene.

Grief counselors were on hand Thursday at Madison Elementary School, where the girl was a third grader. Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001