Update: The autopsy results are in and that’s all Bannock County Prosecutors needed to file charges in the case that left a father dead and his son as the primary suspect.
“In the interest of Cord Danielson, this is a petition from my office charging that said child on or about the 17th day of February, 2012 in Bannock County, Idaho is charged in murder in the first degree, Idaho Code 184001, did kill and murder Paul Danielson, a human being by shooting him, causing injuries to Paul Danielson which the victim die on, or about February 17, 2012 in Bannock County, Idaho,” said Ian Service, Deputy Prosecutor for Bannock County.
That was all of the information released by the Juvenile Court for the case that has sent shockwaves through the southern half of the county. Not a lot of information will be released to the public through the duration of the trial because of the age of the accused.
Bannock County Sheriff, Lorne Nielson says it all comes back to the maturity separation between adults and children.
“I think everybody agrees there’s a difference between a child committing a crime and an adult committing a crime. There’s certainly some crimes that are done under the Juvenile Act that can be waivered The Cassie Jo Stoddard case would be a good example of one where they’re automatically waivered to the adult court. That age is 14 and this child just barely turned 12 and so what the court will be looking at, if there is sentencing, is what is in the best interest of the child. When you are an adult, it’s certainly not what’s in the best interest of the defendant; it’s what’s in the best interest of society.”
The charges are serious. First degree murder basically means that there was premeditation and forethought behind a person’s actions. Still, the defendant could be out in a relatively short amount of time as the jurisdiction of the juvenile court system expires on a person’s 21st birthday. That’s one of the reasons why the prosecution is looking at all options right now, including the possibility of the recommendation for a blended sentence if the defendant is found guilty.
“It is a call from the court, from the prosecutor’s office, or even the defense themselves, they can make that motion to waive and that’s a hearing that is separate and apart,” continued Ian Sessions. “That would have to be determined by the juvenile court judge.”
The victim’s ex-wife and mother of the suspect was finally reached in Canada. She’s expected to be in Bannock County sometime Wednesday.
This has been difficult thing for children to process. Tuesday morning, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office sent people to the elementary school that the accused attended to discuss the judicial process and the fundamental right that we are innocent until proven guilty.
The Bannock County Prosecutor's Office has released the name of the 12-year-old boy accused of killing his father along with the amended charges he will now face.
Bannock County Deputy Prosecutor Ian Service says Cord Danielson will face first-degree-murder charges in the death of his father Paul Danielson, 46.
This all started on Friday, February 17th when an emergency call was transferred to Bannock County. When deputies arrived, they found Paul Danielson dead. They also put the man’s 12-year-old boy in custody.
The Bannock County Coroner determined Monday that Danielson died from small caliber firearm wounds to the head.
Danielson owned a business in the area and had been in the Downey area for five years.
When talking about this unusual case, Sheriff Lorin Neilsen said, “This isn’t indicative of our community but we do have the resources to be able to do this investigation,” said Bannock County Sheriff, Lorne Nielsen. “I feel comfortable with the people that we have working with us. I just hope that everybody will give us time to be able to get this out.”
