(Rising Sun, Ind.) - Sentencing arguments began Wednesday morning for Andrew Conley, the Rising Sun teenager who pleaded guilty earlier this week to murdering his kid brother last November.

Andrew Conley being escorted out of the Ohio County Courthouse after pleading guilty to murder Monday. file photo

Prosecutors are hoping to convince Judge James Humphrey to sentence Conley, now 18-years-old, to life in prison without parole.  Conley’s counsel is asking for a lighter sentence between the mandatory 45 to 65 years for a murder conviction in Indiana.

First day testimony in Ohio County Circuit Court included investigators speaking of the brief conversation Andrew Conley had with his parents at the Rising Sun Police Department after Conley voluntarily went to police on Nov. 29, 2009 to report he had killed his 10-year-old brother, Conner, the previous day.

Ohio County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Ziegler, who went to find the boy’s body where it had been dumped by Andrew near the Rising Sun City Park, said he returned to the department to tell the parents a body had been found.

Soon afterwards, Ziegler said, Conley’s parents were allowed to see Andrew in the room he was being interviewed in.

“Bridget Conley walked in and looked at Andrew and stated ‘You killed my son,” said Ziegler. “Andrew stated ‘I know.’”

Other testimony included photos of the wooded area where the victim’s body was found.

Conner Conley

Rising Sun Police Patrolman Wayne Siekman was the first officer to hear Conley’s confession. Seikman testified that Conley was emotional at first – showing tears in his eyes and whimpering – before becoming calm and unemotional as he described how he had killed Conner and dumped the body.

Andrew Conley wore a blue shirt and white for the hearing, showing little emotion while often staring at the table he was seated at in the courtroom.

Prosecutors say they plan to spend the rest of the week presenting evidence supporting their request for a life sentence.

Judge James H. Humphrey will take the arguments of both sides and render a verdict to be announced at a later date.

LINKS:

Conley Pleads Guilty to Murder - http://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news.php?nID=753