ISABELLA SARAH TENNANT - 5 yo/ Accused: John Freeman (16) and Tyler Best (18) - Niagara Falls NY

Police search western NY city for missing girl, 5

Posted: Aug 27, 2012 8:49 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 27, 2012 8:49 AM CDT

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities in the city of Niagara Falls say they're searching for a missing 5-year-old girl.

A news release from the Niagara Falls Police Department says the missing girl is Isabella Sarah Tennant. The release doesn't say when she went missing or where she was last seen. WGRZ-TV in Buffalo reports that she was last seen at her grandmother's house in the city.

Police say Isabella is white with blue eyes and dirty blond hair. She was last seen wearing pink clothing but wasn't wearing socks or shoes.

No other information has been released.

A woman answering the phone Monday morning at Police Chief John Chella's (CHEL'-uhs) office says department officials weren't available to comment because they're all out looking for the girl.

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/19384059/police-search-western-ny-city-for-missing-girl-5#ixzz24l3t5vhj

Isabella Sarah Tennant: Missing Niagara Falls Girl



Isabella Sarah Tennant -- a white female, about 3' tall and 36 lbs. with blue eyes and dirty blonde hair -- was last seen wearing a pink, pajama-style skirt and short-sleeved pink shirt with black stars on it. She was staying at her grandmother's house on the 400 block of 6th Street, Niagara Falls, Sunday night. Missing since midnight.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/photo-gallery.aspx?storyid=179476

5-Year-Old Girl Missing in Niagara Falls

10:37 AM, Aug 27, 2012

NIAGARA FALLS, NY - Niagara Falls Police are searching for a missing five-year-old girl.

She was last seen at her grandmother's house on the 400 block of 6th Street.

Isabella Sarah Tennant is a white female, about 3' tall and 36 lbs. She has blue eyes and dirty blonde hair.

She was last seen wearing a pink, pajama-style skirt and a short-sleeved pink shirt with black stars on it. She was not wearing socks or shoes.

Niagara Falls Police have not issued an Amber alert. They say the situation does not fit the criteria.

The Niagara County Sheriff's office K-9 is assisting in the child's search.

Investigators say Isabella was last seen at 11:58 pm Sunday night by a neighbor who was visiting the grandparent's home. That neighbor is currently at police headquarters being questioned. Police say he is a person of interest.

If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, they're asked to call Niagara Falls Police at: 716-286-4711.

Isabella's mother works at Players Sports Bar. The owner of the bar is offering a $2,000 reward if someone can find Isabella safely.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/179472/1/5-Year-Old-Girl-Missing-in-Niagara-Falls

Body of Isabelle Tennant Found in Alley

2:00 PM, Aug 27, 2012
Written by Lindsey Tugman

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say a 5-year-old western New York girl was killed by a trusted family friend at her great-grandmother's house then put in trash bag and stuffed in an alley garbage can.

Niagara Falls police say two people in custody will be charged with killing Isabella Sarah Tennant late Sunday night.

They did not identify the two suspects, including a 16-year-old friend of Isabella's family. She was last seen alive around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and was reported missing about 6 a.m. missing by relatives at the home where she had been visiting.

The last person known to see Isabella alive is one of the two people in custody. He went to police on his own.

An autopsy is planned for Tuesday.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/223983/288/Body-of-western-NY-girl-5-found-in-alley

Isabella Tennant found dead, 16-year-old considered person-of-interest

4:40 PM, Aug 27, 2012
Written by Brandie Piper
By Patrick Klinck

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (WGRZ) - Niagara Falls Police said just before noon on Monday that missing five-year-old girl Isabella Sarah Tennant has been found dead. Police have a person of interest in custody. He is 16-years-old.

Tennant had last been seen at her great grandmother's house on the 400 block of 6th Street Sunday night. The search ended in an alleyway between 3rd and 4th streets in the City of Niagara Falls.

Investigators say Isabella was last seen at 11:58 p.m. Sunday night by a neighbor who was visiting the great grandparent's home. That neighbor was taken to police headquarters for questioning, and later held as a person of interest in the case.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, police said the boy was, as far as they could tell, "a trusted family friend." The girl was left in his custody when the great grandmother went to bed at about 10:30 p.m.

A family member told 2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing that the grandmother was known for trying to help troubled kids in the neighborhood, and that the 16-year-old now in police custody had been a frequent visitor to the home.

Police said the girl's body was found in a garbage bag in a garbage can in the alley. They were tipped off to the location of the body by a second 16-year-old. No weapon was recovered but there were indications of trauma, according to the police spokesperson.

The 16-year-old will likely be charged with murder in the second degree, which carries a term of 25 years to life. The arraignment will happen Tuesday morning.

The child would stay with her grandmother while her mother, who lives in Cheektowaga, was working at her job at Player's nightclub in Niagara Falls.

www.ksdk.com/news/article/335155/28/Missing-5-year-old-found-dead

Isabella Tennant Murder Suspect a "Trusted Family Friend"

8:47 PM, Aug 27, 2012
Written by Patrick Klinck

NIAGARA FALLS, NY - Niagara Falls Police have charged two 16-year-old boys in connection with the murder of five-year-old Isabella Tennant.

• John Robert Freeman DOB 10-4-95 of 422 Sixth Street, NF, NY was charged with Murder Second an A1 Felony.

• Tyler Scott Best, DOB 5-14-94, who listed a Buffalo address (193 Banard St), but had been staying at 422 Sixth Street with Freeman for the past year is charged with Tampering with Evidence, an E Felony.

Below is text from a press release issued by the Niagara Falls Police Department Monday night:

Today (8/27/2012) at about 6:20 a.m. a call of a missing 5 year old girl came into Niagara Falls Police Dept. The 5 year old, Isabella Tennant was staying overnight at 450 Sixth Street- the home of her great-grandmother. She was discovered missing just after 6:00 a.m. when her mother arrived to pick-her-up. The great grandmother, Sharon Lascelle, said she went to bed just after 11:00 p.m. and Isabella was playing with a 16 year old neighbor, John Freeman. A search was immediately conducted with assistance of numerous agencies, including a bloodhound from the Niagara Co. Sheriffs Office, however she was not located.

Just after 9 a.m. Tyler Best came to Police Headquarters and told detectives that he had information concerning this investigation. Based on the information that was given to detectives by Best Niagara Falls Police were able to locate Isabella's deceased body in a trash can in the alley of the 500 block of Third St. Detective's also interviewed John Freeman. From these interviews we learned that Isabella was killed by Freeman and the two males then placed Isabella into a trash bag and put her in a garbage can. They then moved the garbage can to the location where we found her on Third Street. At this time we believe Freeman killed Isabella with his bare hands (no weapons involved) and that Best was only involved after she was deceased and assisted with moving her remains.

Freeman was described by family members of the victim as a "close" and "trusted" family friend. They also said it was also not uncommon for him to be in the home and around Isabella unsupervised. Best and Freeman are described as close friends.

Both Freeman and Best will be arraigned Tuesday in Niagara Falls City Court at 9:00 a.m.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/179506/37/16-Year-Old-to-be-Charged-with-Murder-of-Isabella-Tennant

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Two teenagers were arrested Monday in
connection with the death of a 5-year-old girl who vanished from her
great-grandmother's house and whose body was found dumped in a garbage
can, authorities said.


The arrests came after one of the teens went to police Monday morning
and led them to a garbage can containing a trash bag holding the body
of Isabella Tenant, authorities said. He told them he had helped a
friend dispose of it after the friend had killed her, they said.


Isabella's family had called police earlier Monday to say
she was missing from her great-grandmother's home in Niagara Falls,
where she'd been staying overnight. Isabella's great-grandmother said
she had last seen her Sunday night with 16-year-old neighbor and family
friend John Freeman.


Authorities said it was Freeman's friend, 18-year-old Tyler Best, who
led them to her body, which he said he helped Freeman hide. Authorities
said it appeared Isabella had been killed without weapons being
involved.


Police on Monday said they had charged Freeman as an adult and he
faced a murder charge. They said Best was charged with tampering with
evidence.


Freeman and Best were in custody and couldn't be reached for comment
Monday. There was no listed home phone number for them, and no
information about attorneys was available.


Freeman and Best were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.


At a news conference Monday afternoon, police Chief Detective William
Thompson said there were signs of injuries but no indication of sexual
abuse.
"It's a terrible crime," he said. "It tears at your heart."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/isabella-sarah-tennant_n_1834768.html

Search for Missing Girl Ends in TragedyNiagara Falls police reported at about noon on Monday that missing five-year-old Isabella Sarah Tennant was found dead in an alley near her grandmother's house. She had last been seen Sunday night. wgrz.com



What a cute little angel. Despite his age I hope he gets the death penality. There's just no excuse.

William

Suspects face judge, plead not guilty

Updated: Tuesday, 28 Aug 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 28 Aug 2012, 10:42 AM EDT
Posted by: Emily Lenihan

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - An innocent child has been taken too soon. Tuesday, her accused killer and his suspected accomplice are charged in the death of five-year-old Isabella Tennant.

Less than 24 hours after police found her lifeless body, two teenagers faced a judge for the first time in connection to the young girl’s death.

Sixteen-year-old John Freeman is accused of killing Bella with his bare hands. His roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Best, is charged with helping dump her body in a trash can.

The Niagara City courtroom was so packed with family members and community members, that courtroom officials had to come in and excuse everyone but close family. Everyone stayed quiet, some filled with tears Tuesaday.

Freeman pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Niagara Falls City Court, Tuesday morning.

Freeman’s former Cadet leader Christopher DiDonna said, “I’m shocked and very heartbroken that one of my cadets would do this after learning all he did in the Cadet program.”

Bella, as she was known to her family and friends, was spending the night at her great grandmother’s home on 6th Street in Niagara Falls while her mother worked. Police believe the great grandmother went to bed around 10:30 p.m., leaving Bella in the care of 16-year-old neighbor John Freeman, someone those closest to the Tennant family say she knew and trusted.

When the family woke up, Bella was gone. The family reported her missing at 6:20 a.m. Monday. Police searched the area for hours. A break in the case came when 18-year-old Tyler Best took them to her body.

Best was also in court Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence.

This case has emotions running high for most people involved. Loved ones cried while they left the courtroom.

One person showed up, just to show his support. Phillip Krehan said, “I don’t want to see any kid get their life cut short, not matter what the reason is. And for somebody to do such a heartless, despicable crime, it just shows how the heartlessness of this city is just getting worse.”

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/crime/suspects-face-judge-plead-not-guilty

http://interactives.wivb.com/photomojo/gallery/4041/81360/family-girls-body-found-in-alley/family-shares-pictures-of-bella/










I just don't understand how people could hurt young children.
My heart just cries for her.
William

Mom: Boy accused of killing NY girl wasn't in home

Updated 9:59 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2012

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — The teenager charged with killing a 5-year-old girl then dumping her body in a garbage can wasn't around when the little girl's mother dropped her off with a relative while the mother went to work.

Crystal Walker told WIVB-TV that she knew John Freeman as a "mooch" who would frequently come and go from Walker's grandmother's house in Niagara Falls. She asked her grandmother, Sharon Lascelle, not to keep letting him in but she told the television station that Lascelle had a big heart, couldn't say no and would let Freeman sleep at the house when his heat was turned off.

"She's just so welcoming in her home and just trusts everyone," a devastated and tearful Walker said in an interview broadcast Tuesday.

Police say Freeman came to the house sometime Sunday night and, after Lascelle went to bed around 11, killed Isabella Tennant with his bare hands. An autopsy report said she died from an obstructed airway and compression of the neck.

After killing the girl, Freeman enlisted the help of a friend, 18-year-old Tyler Best, to put the body in a garbage bag and dump it in a garbage can a few blocks away. The teens were arrested shortly after Best went to police Monday morning and led them to the garbage can and a trash bag holding Isabella's body. He told them he helped Freeman dispose of the body after Freeman killed her, police said.

Freeman pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges and was sent to county jail without bail. Best pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with evidence and also was returned to jail. Both are due back in court on Sept. 7.

"I just don't want it to be real," Walker said. "I just want her back."

Walker, who works at a sports bar in Niagara Falls, says she wishes her grandmother had just told Isabella to come to bed when the older woman did. And, while she knows Lascelle was responsible for her daughter's safety, she doesn't blame her for the girl's death.

"I can't," she said. "It wasn't her fault because she trusted this kid."

For Freeman, though, Walker held nothing but scorn and anger.

"I don't understand. He could have left her in the basement and made it look like she fell," she said, her face contorting and her voice breaking through the tears. "But instead, he took her little body three streets away and put her in a garbage can. I mean, who does that?"

Police said they believe Freeman killed Isabella in the house, but they haven't detailed the attack.

In a statement issued to the media, Michael Tennant said: "Isabella was loved deeply by her daddy Mike and his fiancee Maria. Isabella enjoyed spending time with her cousins and family. Anybody who knew Isabella always saw her warm beautiful smile. The Tennant family appreciates your thoughts and prayers at this time of grieving."

At a news conference Monday afternoon, Niagara Falls Chief Detective William Thompson said the girl was injured but there was no indication of sexual abuse. County Coroner Cindy-Lou Joyce also said there was no sign of sexual abuse.

"As far as we know, he was a trusted family friend," Thompson said. "It's a terrible crime. It tears at your heart."

Of Best going to police, Thompson said, "I imagine it was his conscience."

Freeman and Best were in custody and couldn't be reached for comment. Their home phone numbers weren't listed.

The teenagers, dressed in blue jumpsuits and handcuffed, were in court for just six minutes and each said only one word, answering "no" when Niagara Falls City Court Judge Angelo Morinello asked if they were students. Eleven members of Isabella's family and 11 supporters of Freeman filled the courtroom. There were no confrontations in or outside the court.

Robert Viola, the lawyer representing Freeman, said he met with the boy for a few minutes Monday and asked the judge to reserve his right to seek a hearing to see if Freeman is competent to stand trial. He also asked the judge to seal any statements Freeman gave to police. The judge agreed to both requests.

Viola did not return a call seeking comment.

Best was represented by Rodney Giove. A phone call to his law firm went unanswered Tuesday.

Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante has not returned repeated calls seeking comment since Monday afternoon.

Crystal Walker said her only child was very energetic and loving and looking forward to starting kindergarten.

She was so excited," she told the TV station. "We just got all the shopping done, she filled her book bag; it's in her room.

"Her lunchbox is in the fridge," she said, pausing as emotion caught up to her quavering voice. "She already packed a lunch and it doesn't even start for two weeks."

Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Mom-Boy-accused-of-killing-NY-girl-wasn-t-in-home-3819784.php#ixzz24wVhF916

Has anyone read about a motive yet? She wasn't sexual assaulted (thank God)...so what was the motive? And why didn't Grandma take her to bed? Why do you leave a 5 year old up, alone with a 16 year old boy, at 11PM?

My thought is - maybe Isabella caught him doing something and was going to "tell on him" .... something that the grandmother wouldn't like and not allow him into her home anymore. maybe stealing, or doing drugs, or maybe he attempted to fondle her...

VIDEO: 5-year-old Bella's mother speaks on immeasurable loss

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/niagara/video-mom-on-murder-of-5-yr-old-bella

Attorney to challenge teen's confession

Updated: Wednesday, 29 Aug 2012, 7:04 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 29 Aug 2012, 7:04 AM EDT
Nalina Shapiro
Posted by: Emily Lenihan

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - It was a packed house for Tuesday's arraignment of two teens charged in connection with the death of five-year-old Bella Tennant.

Sixteen-year-old John Freeman will be tried as an adult and faces a second-degree murder charge.

The Niagara County Coroner ruled Isabella Tennant's cause of death as a mechanical obstruction of the airway and compression of the neck.

Police say the suspect used his bare hands, which would mean Isabella was choked to death.

In court, Freeman was asked, “are you a student?” He answered, “no.” That was the only word Freeman said in court.

He never looked at Isabella's family, he only glanced at his own family who cried through the arraignment.

Defense Attorney Robert Viola plans to challenge Freeman's alleged confession to police.

Viola said, “It's my understanding the people's case for the most part rests on a reported statement given by my client.”

Co defendant Tyler Best is charged with tampering with evidence. He's accused helping dump the five-year-old girl's body in a trash can.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/crime/Attorney-to-challenge-teens-confession

Funeral for slain NY girl; 16-year-old charged

Updated September 1, 2012, 7:01 a.m. ET
Associated Press

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Hundreds of people gathered Saturday for the funeral of a 5-year-old Niagara Falls girl who police say was killed by a 16-year-old friend of the girl's family.

Isabella Tennant's body was found Monday morning in a garbage can a few blocks from her grandmother's house. Police say 16-year-old John Freeman, a trusted family friend, killed the girl with his bare hands Sunday night, then called a friend to help dispose of the body.

The teens were arrested shortly after the friend, 18-year-old Tyler Best, went to police and led them to the garbage can and a trash bag holding Isabella's body. Freeman is charged with second-degree murder. Best is charged with tampering with evidence. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Isabella's father released a statement to the media that said words could not express the agony he feels, according to WGRZ-TV in Buffalo (http://on.wgrz.com/Qb35Zu ).

"We have lost the joy, the smiles and innocence of one who had so much to give," he wrote. "We now ask that everyone direct their thoughts and prayers to Isabella as well as to those who are managing the judicial process, that they may find courage and strength in their pursuit of truth. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from the community and take refuge in knowing that while gone, Isabella will never be forgotten."

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo told the TV station that the St. Louis Church where the funeral was held was packed to capacity of 1,000.

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP55ec13ac104a4fb7aa5485a9cef85393.html

Gingernlw wrote:Has anyone read about a motive yet? She wasn't sexual assaulted (thank God)...so what was the motive? And why didn't Grandma take her to bed? Why do you leave a 5 year old up, alone with a 16 year old boy, at 11PM?

Probably just killed her to see her die. Some evil people will do just that.
Hope he gets the death penality. No excuse for this. That sweet gorgeous little angel derserves justice.
Just watch, he'll get off or light sentence.

Death for a Death. We need a national death penality for the deliberate killing of a child.

William

Teens waive hearings in Bella case

Updated: Friday, 07 Sep 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 07 Sep 2012, 7:32 AM EDT
Nalina Shapiro
Posted by: Emily Lenihan

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - The teenagers facing charges in connection to five-year-old Isabella Tennant’s death were in court Friday morning.

Sixteen-year-old John Freeman, a family friend, is accused of second-degree murder. Police say he killed Bella with his bare hands, but there's still no word on a motive. Eighteen-year-old Tyler Best is accused of helping Freeman dump Bella's body nearly two weeks ago.

Both Freeman and Best waived their preliminary hearings Friday, and the cases are moving to a grand jury in Lockport.

Freeman’s attorney said they have not submitted an application for a competency hearing, but they haven’t ruled it out.

Freeman's appearance is different from his last time in court, he had requested to have his head shaved.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/crime/teens-due-in-court-over-girls-murder

Freeman and Best Case Heading to a Grand Jury

By By Rachel Elzufon
September 7, 2012
Updated Sep 7, 2012 at 6:54 PM EDT

Niagara Falls, NY (WKBW) - The teenager accused of killing a five-year-old girl two weeks ago is "extremely remorseful" according to his attorney.

Friday morning, 16-year-old John Freeman and is co-defendant, 18-year-old Tyler Best, were back in court in Niagara Falls.

Freeman is accused of killing five-year-old Isabella Tennant "with his bare hands." He's charged with second degree murder.

Best is charged with tampering with evidence.

During Friday's hearing, both boys waived the preliminary hearing.

For the first time Freeman's attorney, Robert Viola, spoke with reporters. He said Freeman is "extremely, extremely upset, remorseful about the criminal proceedings and the crimes he's accused of."

Viola says "We're as perplexed as I think everybody else is, because quite frankly, it literally makes no sense."

He explains if the defense went forward with a preliminary hearing, Freeman's statements to police would have been revealed.

Viola says "that statement is under seal at our request. I can't get into the contents of it, but obviously the preliminary hearing would have defeated the purpose of sealing the statement."

Viola also said for now, they're not going to evaluate Freeman's mental competency -- an idea that had been tossed around during his initial appearance.

Freeman is "able to understand the nature of the proceedings against him, he's able to assist in his own defense. Whether that changes with time, then that may be something that has to be revisited." Viola says "There is no explanation that we've either been able to receive or able to develop when interviewing him."

The case will now go to the Niagara County Court in Lockport, where a grand jury will look at the case.

Viola says Freeman is overwhelmed, and understands the community is too. He says "There's a lot of outrage when a 5-year-old little girl's life is destroyed and taken away that way ... It's outrageous."

The families of Freeman, Best and Isabella Tennant were all in court. All of them declined to comment.

http://www.wkbw.com/video/Freeman-and-Best-Appear-In-Court--168927796.html

Insanity defense coming for teen charged in 5-year-old's death

December 20, 2012
By Rick Pfeiffer Niagara Gazette

Niagara Gazette — LOCKPORT — A Falls teen, accused in the murder of a 5-year-old girl, may use an insanity defense.

Defense attorney Robert Viola has notified both prosecutors and Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III that he is looking at using "psychiatric evidence" in the trial of John Robert Freeman Jr. The Falls teenager faces charges of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in the slaying of Isabella Tennant.

By law, if Viola wants to use an insanity defense at Freeman's trial, he must tell the judge and prosecutors in the case during the early stages of the proceedings. Viola made that notification in a motion filed last week.

Second Assistant District Attorney Holly Sloma told Murphy that prosecutors had "questions" about Viola's possible use of psychiatric evidence. She also raised concerns about potential delays in Freeman's trial posed by the need to involve psychiatric experts.

"(Viola) has indicated it could be five to six months before the expert of his choice could meet with Mr. Freeman," Sloma said. "We would object to that amount of time being needed for the evidence to be gathered."

Sloma reminded Murphy that, "The people are ready for trial."

A trial for Freeman, and his co-defendant Tyler Scott Best, is set for early February.

Freeman, 18, of the Falls, and Best, 20, of Buffalo, have each pleaded not guilty in the slaying of Tenant. Best is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence.

Murphy also expressed concern about the length of time Viola said he would need to have the psychiatric testing on his client done. Viola said a forensic psychologist from Children's Hospital has already examined Freeman.

Based on that examination, Viola said he was advised that further testing and an examination should be done by an Amherst-based neuro-psychologist. That expert told Viola she would need until April to complete her work.

Murphy said he would "call the doctor" to see if he could "speed up the process."

"I have concerns about a delay of six months (in this case)," Murphy said.

Tennant was reported missing about 6:20 a.m. on Aug. 27, when patrol officers were called to her great grandmother's home in the 400 block of Sixth Street. The great grandmother told police Isabella had disappeared overnight.

Freeman has been described by members of Tennant's family as a “close” and “trusted” friend. They also said that it was not uncommon for him to be in the great grandmother’s home and be around Isabella without supervision.

While detectives questioned Freeman, Best arrived at Falls police headquarters and told investigators he had information about Tennant's disappearance. He then led police to a trash can in the alley behind 531 Third St., where Tennant's body was found.

Investigators have said they are convinced that Freeman was the killer and Best only helped to dispose of Tennant's body.

It's believed Freeman may have provided some motive for the killing in a statement he made to Falls Police detectives. Both detectives and prosecutors have declined to comment on the motive for the murder.

An autopsy on Tennant's body, conducted by the Erie County Medical Examiner, concluded the cause of death as "asphyxiation due to mechanical obstruction of (her) airway and compression of the neck."

In a statement released by Falls police after the teens were charged, detectives said, “At this time we believe Freeman killed Isabella with his bare hands." Investigators also said there were some signs of "trauma" on Tennant’s body, but “no evidence of sexual abuse.”

http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x730418284/Insanity-defense-coming-for-teen-charged-in-5-year-olds-death

Judge must rule on whether statements to police can be used at Isabella Tennant trial

January 17, 2013
By Rick Pfeiffer Niagara Gazette

Niagara Gazette — LOCKPORT — When Tyler Best arrived at Falls police headquarters just before 10 a.m. on Aug. 26, he appeared shaken and remorseful.

Those were the observations of city cops who saw and spoke to him before he confessed his role in the murder of Isabella Tennant.

On Wednesday, prosecutors sought to convince Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III to allow them to use a 33-minute videotaped interview between Best and Falls detectives, as well as a written confession and a DNA sample he gave, if the Buffalo teenager decides to go trial on a charges of tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution in the Tennant homicide.

Best came to police headquarters several hours after Falls police had begun a desperate hunt for Tennant. The 5-year-old had been reported missing from her great-grandmother's home, in the 400 block of Sixth Street.

The great-grandmother said the little girl had disappeared overnight and had last been seen with a close family friend, 16-year-old John Freeman Jr.

Though what Best told investigators had happened to Tennant was not revealed during the hearing, police witnesses did testify that he appeared "remorseful" when he was brought to headquarters by his mother and his uncle. Best was reportedly a close friend of Freeman's and had been living with him and his family at their Sixth Street home.

Not long after Best spoke with detectives, police made the grisly discovery of Tennant’s body. She was found dead, in a trash bag, buried in a garbage can in the 500 block alley of Third Street.

Freeman, in a statement to police that has been sealed by a court order, reportedly offered several explanations for what had happened to Isabella. In his statements to police, Best reportedly confessed to having helped his friend dispose of the little girl’s body.

At the time, police credited Best for coming forward and talking to them.

“It would have been very difficult to solve this without (Best’s) help,” Detective Capt. William Thomson said. “I imagine his conscience was bothering him.”

Investigators have said that, based on the statements made to them by Freeman and Best, they believe Isabella was killed in her great grandmother’s home and that her body was then taken to the trash can. Detectives say they believe Freeman was the killer and Best only helped to dispose of the body.

In October, a Niagara County grand jury indicted both Freeman and Best. Freeman, who was 16 at the time of the crime and has now turned 17, was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

In an appearance in Niagara County Court in late December, Freeman’s defense attorney filed paperwork that would allow him to present an insanity defense in the case.

http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x1746079799/Judge-must-rule-on-whether-statements-to-police-can-be-used-at-Isabella-Tennant-trial

Girl's alleged killer to face judge

Updated: Monday, 25 Feb 2013, 6:45 AM EST
Published : Monday, 25 Feb 2013, 6:45 AM EST
Anthony Congi
Posted by: Emily Lenihan

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - The story shocked the community, when a little girl was killed and dumped in a garbage can. Monday, the teen accused of killing five-year-old Isabella Tennant will be back inside a courtroom.

Earlier this month, John Freeman Jr., the man accused of strangling Tennant, underwent several days of mental examinations to see if he is psychologically competent to stand trial. Monday, he will be in court for a pretrial for the statements he made to police.

John Freeman Jr. is accused of killing Isabella “Bella” Tennant last August while she was at her great grandmother’s home on 6th Street in Niagara Falls. Prosecutors say Freeman, who was considered a family friend, suffocated the little girl when he was left alone to watch her.

Bella’s mom Crystal Walker said, “And when we were looking for her, we went straight to his house because we knew he was there on the computer and he said 'Oh I left and she was coloring, and didn't even ask to help us look for her."

Earlier this month, Robert Viola, Freeman’s attorney, told prosecutors and Judge Matthew Murphy, that Freeman will be going through a psychological examination. This likely means the legal team is taking steps to present an insanity defense.

Meantime, Freeman’s friend Tyler Best is charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence. Police say Freeman and Best put Bella’s body in a garbage can in a nearby alley.

Freeman will be back in court Monday morning for what’s called a huntley hearing. Basically, it’s a pretrial that will review the way police obtained statements from Freeman.

It is also expected the results of the testing will be revealed soon and how that possibly changes the legal proceedings going forward. It's expected the testing has pushed Freeman's trial back to late spring or early summer.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/girls-alleged-killer-to-face-judge