Teens bound over in triple murder case

Colby Becker and Kyle Ray, both 15, are accused of using a .22-caliber rifle to shoot Ray's parents, James, 42, and Kimberly, 37, and his sister, Jennifer, 12, at their home.

Each is charged with three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. No date was set for their next court appearance. They were bound over late Wednesday following a two-day hearing.

The boys' attorneys contend that Becker was questioned before he had an attorney present and that his parents were not told they could be in the room when the questioning took place.

They also challenged testimony on Tuesday that Ray called the 911 emergency number three times urging officials to check his home, saying there was no evidence presented that he actually made the calls.

Lander County sheriff's Sgt. Klaus Altemueller testified in the hearing's second day Wednesday that Becker said Ray had argued with his mother and said at one point he wished she was dead.

He said Becker agreed to shoot James Ray after Kyle Ray said he would kill his mother and sister.

Prosecutors also said one spent bullet and eight casings were traced to a weapon was found in a car behind a Battle Mountain deli that witnesses said the boys had been driving earlier in the day.

Becker and Ray could be tried as adults but are too young for the death penalty. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Neither youth has a criminal record or any history of trouble in school, authorities said. Both had been scheduled to graduate from junior high school.

But neighbors have said the two boys had troubled home lives, showed signs of psychological abuse and repeatedly ran away from home.

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