State v. Fetters

Facts

When she was about fourteen years old, Kristina Joy Fetters (Defendant) became a resident of a residential facility for the psychological and emotional treatment of children called Orchard Place. While there, Defendant had discussions with other young girls about running away from the facility and robbing and killing her seventy three year-old great aunt, Arlene Klehm, by cutting her throat. One day, Defendant and her roommate Jeanie Fox packed their things and left. Once the girls arrived at Klehm’s house, they waited, out of site, for visitors to leave. While waiting, Defendant repeated to Fox her plan to kill Klehm and explained that Satan had given her the power to do so. After the visitors had left, Defendant and Fox went up to the door and Klehm let them inside. After a few minutes, Defendant struck Klehm in the head with a frying pan while in the kitchen, got on top of Klehm, and attempted to slit her throat. Defendant then got a bigger kitchen knife and stabbed Klehm in the back. During the attack, Klehm screamed for Fox to help her. After she had killed Klehm, Defendant looked for the keys to Klehm’s safe and truck but could not find them. The girls then left the house. After hearing sirens, Defendant started to cry and both girls ran until they found someone to call the police. After the police arrived, Defendant admitted to killing Klehm. Defendant was charged with first-degree murder. The juvenile court transferred jurisdiction to the district court. At trial, the other residents at Orchard Place testified that Defendant “seemed to know what she was doing” and had it all planned out. Defendant admitted killing Klehm but asserted that she was not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished capacity. Defendant was convicted, sentenced to life imprisonment, and she appealed.