Teen will be tried as adult in mother’s killing

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 6/20/09

A Cape Coral teen accused in the stabbing death of his mother earlier this month will be charged as an adult, according to state prosecutors.

David Joel Hankins, 15, faces life in prison if convicted of the 2nd degree murder of his mother, 40-year-old Myra Rodriguez.

The state has direct filed the charge against Hankins as an adult, State Attorney's Office spokesperson Samantha Syoen said Friday evening.

Hankins is currently in juvenile detention awaiting his next court date, Syoen said.

Police accused Hankins of stabbing Rodriguez with a kitchen knife, stealing her car and leading officers on a foot and vehicle pursuit that ended with a crash at a local business on Viscaya Parkway June 3, according to reports.

He also faces charges of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and four counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, according to court records.

Hankins will be arraigned on those charges Monday afternoon in a Lee County courtroom, records indicate.

It is unclear at this time whether or not Hankins will be arraigned on the charge of 2nd degree murder during the Monday hearing.