Florida teen accused of killing mom to be tried as adult

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a 15-year-old Florida boy strangled his mother after getting into an argument over a bad grade he received.

Gregory Ramos was arrested last week, after the body of 46-year-old Gail Cleavenger was found buried under a nearby church's fire pit. Investigators say the boy killed her after they argued about his school grades.  

A grand jury on Thursday handed down an indictment on charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a dead body and tampering with a crime scene.  Ramos will be tried as an adult.  In an afternoon news conference, State Attorney R.J. Larizza said this is the youngest person he has ever prosecuted. 

“I’m surprised, I’m shocked, I’m bewildered that we are prosecuting a 15-year old for murdering his mother,” Larizza said.

"Ramos showed extreme indifference to human life," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.  "I don't think we're talking about a typical 15-year-old kid here."

After the killing, authorities say Ramos called friends to help him make it look like someone had burglarized the home. The boy initially told deputies his mother was missing.

The two 17-year-old friends also face charges.