A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult with murder in the death of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in Santa Cruz, the district attorney said Wednesday.
Adrian Jerry Gonzalez of Santa Cruz faces one count of murder with the special circumstance that he kidnapped, sexually assaulted and tied up Maddy before killing her, Santa Cruz County Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Rosell said Wednesday. He is also accused of lying in wait.
He has also been charged with one count of kidnapping and four other sexual assault-related offenses, he said. If convicted of the charges, he faces life in prison, Rosell said.