Oct 21, 2008 6:39 pm US/Eastern
Interrogation Video Released In Teen's Death
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Jason Hartley is accused of killing 14-year-old Neica Gibbs.
Miami Herald
A sobbing Jason Hartley broke down to police, telling them as he cried that he killed his 14-year-old friend Neica Gibbs this past July. The video of his police interrogation has finally been released for the first time, in which he tells investigators "I didn't want to do it. I didn't mean to do it.
"He indicates it happened in the course of a violent struggle," described Defense Attorney George Reres.
Jason told police he agreed to pay Neica $50 for sex at his trailer. It was his first time. He said Neica got mad when he told her he did not have the money, threatened to beat him up and made fun of him sexually.
Jackson described tackling her, saying they fell against his treadmill. At that point, he said, she got tangled in a strap hanging from it. "I was holding her against my treadmill," he said, "She fell to the ground; she wasn't moving.
CBS4 Reporter Ted Scouten spoke to Jason just hours before he was arrested. He denied having anything to do with it back then. Initially, he also denied involvement to police.
"It spiraled out of control," Jason's mother Lorraine Boggess said, "He's not a killer."
His mother is actually the person who found Neica's body weeks after she was murdered. Jason told investigators he wrapped her in a tarp and laid her body next to a dumpster just feet from his trailer. Jason's mom does not think it was intentional, but feels he does need to be punished for her death.
"Give him a good 10 years, easy. I know it's hard to say, but he still gotta pay for what he's done," she said.
Prosecutors are charging him with second degree murder, alleging he didn't plan to kill her, but is still responsible.
Prosecutor Maria Schneider said, "We're alleging that he committed an act that a reasonable person knew or should have known could have easily lead to the demise of another, and in fact did."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Burned Teen's Family Staying Positive
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