Timothy Romans

Timothy Romans was found dead along with Vincent Romero, in Romero's St. Johns, Arizona home, both apparently murdered by Romero's 8-year-old son. Romans was a co-worker of Romero and had been renting a room in his house. Authorities believe that the murders were premeditated by Romero's son, whom had recently received a disciplinary spanking from his mother-in-law by request of his father. Arizona law allows children of age 8 or older to be charged as adults.

On February 19, 2009, and over the objections of his mother Erin Bloomfield, the boy pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in Romans' death and charges were dropped in the death of his father. The boy will stay in the custody of state officials until he turns 18; whether he will be held at a juvenile detention center, in a foster home, or with his mother.New York Times: Boy, 9, Enters a Guilty Plea in 2 Killings in Arizona (February 21, 2009)

In a tape released on November 19, 2008, police interviewed the 8-year-old murder suspect, whom at first denies the claims of murder, but later admits to shooting his father after he had found him already shot. The boy claims he shot him so his father wouldn't suffer.CNN.com: Boy, 8, gives taped account in shooting deaths (Novemeber 19, 2008)