Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON— On Thursday a Reno County Judge granted a defense request to continue the trial for a Hutchinson teen accused of killing his mother and sister and attempting to kill his father.

Public Defender Kelly Driscoll who represents Samuel Vonachen told the judge during a brief hearing that she won’t be ready for trial on May 5.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell had no objection to the hearing, but told the judge he wants a hard date for the trial to make sure witnesses from out of town are available for the trial.

Judge Trish Rose, before setting a new date, asked Vonachen if he had any questions over his right to a speedy trial and how this continuance would not count against the state.

He told the judge, “no, I have no questions.” The state is required to get any defendant to trial within a certain amount of time after they’ve been arraigned on the charges. Judge Rose set a new date of July 20 for the trial of the teen.

A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for April 17, but with the change in trial date, that could also be pushed to a later date.

Vonachen was 14 at the time of the alleged crimes and is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two alternate counts of felony murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated arson.

He’s accused of setting fire to the family home on Sept. 26, 2013, by pouring gas throughout the house, then lighting it. The blaze killed his mother, Karla Jo Vonachen, and his sister Audrey. The teen’s father was able to escape the fire.

He remains jailed on a $1,000,000 bond and is being housed outside of Reno county.