HUTCHINSON — The Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday denied the Writ of Mandamus requested by Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder against Judge Trish Rose in the Samuel Vonachen murder case.

Schroeder filed the writ to try to stop plans to have a new mental evaluation completed for the teen convicted of setting the fire that killed his mother and sister.

The state had requested that the 17 year old be moved to adult jail after being convicted of two counts of murder, attempted murder and aggravated arson as an adult and also asked the court to block another mental evaluation from being conducted, instead of going ahead and sentencing him for the conviction.

Schroeder stated in the motion that he was never notified of the judge’s attempt to do this.

Because of the high court’s decision, Schroeder says it would appear Vonachen will remain housed in the Reno County Juvenile Detention Facility until further order of the court and be subject to another evaluation by Larned State Security Hospital.

Schroeder, in an email to the media, said, “I stand by my decision to challenge Judge Rose’s decisions, despite the ruling of the Kansas Supreme Court. I believe it was my sworn duty to do everything possible to protect the community.”

A Reno County jury convicted the teen of the two counts of murder for the killing of his mother and sister who died after he set fire to the family home on Sept. 26, 2013. His father was able to escape. But, he was also convicted for attempted first-degree murder for trying to kill his father and aggravated arson for the actual setting of the fire.

The sentencing of the teen is now on hold.