Life In Prison For Teen Murderer Of 10-year-Old Aurora Girl

BRIGHTON, CO – A 16-year-old teen was sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole in 30 years for the murder of 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell in Thornton in 2017.

Aidan Zellmer, who was tried as an adult in Adams County, took a plea deal in February for the death of Campbell, whose body was found in a Thornton park, beaten with a metal pipe. Zellmer's mother was in a relationship with Kiaya's father at the time.

Zellmer claimed he had been separated from Campbell during a rainstorm, setting off a massive hunt for the girl.

“In 27 years as a prosecutor, I have never seen a 15-year-old commit such a violent act,” District Attorney Dave Young said in a press release.

Kiaya was reported missing the night of June 7, 2017 while walking with Zellmer, prosecutors said. An AMBER Alert was issued and community members helped multiple law enforcement and rescue units search for her body, which was found the next day in a greenbelt area behind homes near 128th Avenue and Jasmine Street.

Zellmer "continued to mislead police, directing them to areas of Thornton away from where he had left Kiaya after murdering her," the DA's office said in a press release.

“It is important for Mr. Zellmer to acknowledge that he is the only one responsible for Kiaya Campbell’s death,” Young told the court. Young said he discounted the defense argument that Zellmer was failed by his family and social services. “[Zellmer] is is not a victim in this case. Everyone in this courtroom is a victim of this case. Everyone who spent hours and hours looking for Kiaya Campbell’s body are victims in this case.”

Young also pooh poohed theories of brain development in juveniles as an excuse for Zellmer's crime. “Fifteen-year-olds make bad decisions but they don’t commit cruel, heinous crimes like this,” Young said in a statement. “After striking her five times in the head with a metal pipe, he left her in a field. When he talked to police, he was calm, cool and collected. He misled and deceived police who were looking for her. This is a rare case. Thank God we don’t have other 15-year-olds doing what he did.”

Adams County District Judge Sharon Holbrook imposed the mandatory life sentence with possibility of parole after 40 years, telling the family, “Kiaya will not be forgotten,” the DA's office said.

Sexual assault charges were dropped against Zellmer as part of his plea deal. His lawyers urged leniency because of his alleged mental health struggles.

Zellmer, who was 15 at the time of the murder, was charged, and tried as an adult. But according to Colorado law, as part of a youth corrective program, he could be eligible for parole in 30 years, the judge told him, as reported from the sentencing hearing by Liz Kotalik at 9NEWS.

READ MORE at 9NEWS

This article has been updated to include the fact that the sentence has a possibility of parole.

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