Teen accused of killing father, stepmother makes court appearance

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — brightcove.createExperiences();

A juvenile court judge has ruled that a 15-year-old boy accused of murdering his father and stepmother must stay in jail.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police found the bodies of Christian Hans Liewald, 43, and Cassie Meghan Buckaloo, 24, apparently at the hand of the couple's 15-year-old son, Matthew, early Monday morning after the suspect called 911 to confess.

Shelby Hodges leaned on her husband's shoulder as they left the courthouse on Thursday with the emotion etched in her face.

She had just seen her son, Matthew Liewald, for the first time in nine years and heard a judge say he could be sent to prison for life for killing his father and stepmother.

Matthew Liewald sat silently as the prosecutor described how he had ambushed Christian and Cassie Liewald early Monday morning as part of his plan to run away from the father he'd grown to fear and the home he'd come to hate.

Liewald's attorney said that he'd wanted to escape a father who had abused him for years.

And as painful as that must have been to hear, Liewald's family told his attorney they'll support him whatever comes next.

Previous Stories: September 27, 2011: Homicide suspect's mother says warning signs were there September 26, 2011: Police identify couple killed, charge teen with their murder

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