A 17-year-old high school student has been charged for the murder of his stepfather. As we reported, 38-year-old Cecil Thompson Stephens was found stabbed to death on the floor of his home on Vernon Street on Tuesday night. Neighbors say that following the incident they saw a teenage boy leaving the house with a bloody t-shirt. Police say that teenage boy was the killer and he is Justin Orillano, a student at Gwen Lizarraga High School and Stephens' stepson. Orillano turned himself into police last night and this afternoon he was taken to court and charged for murder. Here is the story from the courthouse.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This afternoon two police officers escorted 17-year-old Justin Orillano up the stairs to the Family Court where he would be arraigned for stabbing to death his stepfather. It happened here in this house the family calls home on Vernon Street. Justin's mother Rogelia Luriano wasn't home at the time but she says her son has confessed.
Rogelia Luriano, Mother of Accused
"He stabbed his father because his father was on drugs and used to thief his things; all his school books them, his pants, his shirt, his tennis. He would thief them and say a thief broke into the place but nothing wasn't going so because he was on drugs and he told me he couldn't help himself."
Keith Swift,
Were you there when the incident happened?
Rogelia Luriano,
"No, I wasn't there because I had to go around to make me eat because I wasn't living a good life with him. He used to threaten me that he would kill me if I left him so I stayed in the situation."
But the breaking point for her oldest son came on Tuesday evening when he returned home from school with a can of Axe brand body spray. Justin's father allegedly stole the spray to support his drug habit and that's when the teenager flipped.
Rogelia Luriano,
"He said he did but he said he didn't mean to do it but he said he couldn't take it anymore. He said that he just went from himself and it happened but he didn't mean it."
Justine Orillano was a second form student at Gwen Lizarraga High School. His principal Lorna McKay says that like most students - Justin had his problems - both academic and behavioral but she said she never would have expected him to commit murder.
Lorna McKay, Gwen Liz's Principal
"He was one of students who we had our problems with but he had been trying quite hard to reform himself. He had done a lot of good, he has been coming along with us and trying along with us to do his very best. His mother was always there for him, she always came by to try and work with Justin. He was very mannerly as far as I know."
Keith Swift,
Not a student you would expect to kill their parent or anyone for that matter.
Lorna McKay,
"I wouldn't have expected him to do that but I know he has been going through a lot of trying times. He had a lot of stress that I know about that he has been going through at home and it is not a justified action but kids can only take so much as far as I know."
And that is perhaps the best or only explanation as to why this 16-year-old student killed the man he called daddy.
Because he is under 18, Justin Orillano appeared before a Family Court judge this afternoon. Bail was however denied bail and remanded to the Hattieville Prison until his next court appearance scheduled for April 18th.
