The teen-ager accused of killing a Northside girl over the weekend may be tried as an adult.

        The 16-year-old made his first court appearance Wednesday and heard the charges against him — murder and kidnapping. He was a friend, police say, of the victim, 13-year-old Mary Hall.

Mary Hall

        The boy was not identified by police because he is a juvenile. His mother sobbed through the brief hearing and had to be helped out of the courtroom..

        The teen-ager was arrested Tuesday by Cincinnati police. Investigators will not detail how well he knew Mary nor why they think he killed her.

        The girl's body was found Sunday afternoon in a building at Chase and Dane avenues in Northside by workers renovating the place.

        A former corner store with apartments above, it has been vacant for years.

        Mary was last seen Saturday about 7:30 p.m. when she left her house to visit a friend.

        The teen accused of killing her said nothing during Wednesday's proceedings. He will return to court Feb. 7 for Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Sylvia Hendon to consider whether there is probable cause to think he committed the crime.

        If she determines that probable cause exists, the next step will be deciding whether the 16-year-old should be tried as an adult.

        Prosecutors on Wednesday said they want him transferred to adult court.

Neighbor kids remember Mary

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