Suburban Chicago teen accused in death of girl, 11

MUNDELEIN, Ill. (AP) - A 14-year-old suburban Chicago girl faces a first-degree murder charge in the killing of an 11-year-old who was stabbed more than 30 times in the home where both of them lived, officials said Wednesday.

Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said prosecutors approved the charge Wednesday in the slaying of the younger girl, whose body was found in Mundelein a day earlier. A juvenile court judge was to decide whether to confirm the charge and keep the teenager in custody at a closed hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Thomas Rudd, the county's coroner, said that the girl died of ``multiple sharp force injuries.'' He said he found the girl had stab wounds to her face, neck, chest and arms, and that two stab wounds penetrated her upper left lung. He also said there were indications that the younger girl fought for her life, including defensive wounds on her left hand that indicated she ``probably grabbed the knife'' and a defensive wound on her right thumb.

Rudd said that police recovered the knife believed to have been used in the attack and that judging from the injuries, it is about 4 inches long.

Authorities haven't released the names of the victim or the suspect nor have they said how the two are related.

The girls lived in the same Mundelein home, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago, and attended the same Lake County school, investigators said at a news conference Wednesday.

Guenther said the older girl called 911 just before 8:30 a.m. and answered the door when police arrived minutes later.

``This is a very intricate investigation that is of the utmost sensitivity,'' Guenther said.

No adult was home at the time. The discovery of the body Tuesday morning prompted a brief lockdown at nearby schools.

``We are very confident this is an isolated incident and there are no other concerns to the neighbors and or the community around it,'' Guenther said.

Nerheim said he'll decide in several weeks whether to try to have the case moved from juvenile court to an adult court.