Crestview teen charged as an adult in murder of girlfriend's grandmother

A Crestview teen is behind bars, charged in the murder of a local woman.

"I'm disappointed. This young kid had 11 felonies, seven misdemeanors and he still out walking the street, so we've got to move away from this rehabilitation mindset and not holding juveniles accountable," Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley said. "If I were arrested 11 times for felonies, I'd be under the jail and never see the light of day again. Somehow when it's a juvenile we somehow think that's different."

Tuesday, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrested 17-year-old Jeremiah Murphy in connection with the shooting death of 69-year-old Nancy Williams.

Deputies said during a welfare check, they found Williams on the floor inside her detached garage near her house in Crestview.

Investigators developed Murphy as a suspect, who later confessed he and another unidentified suspect went to rob Williams' house Saturday night.

"A grand jury will be in panel within the next two and a half weeks where the state will be seeking to indict him as an adult for his participation in this case. As the sheriff has indicated and we will continue to investigate the matter as to the possibility that there are other people that are involved in this but at this time there is obviously sufficient evidence to charge this individual and move forward against him as an adult," Bill Bishop with the State Attorney's Office said.

Murphy is facing first-degree murder charges and could face a mandatory life sentence if convicted.

"This was a killer. God have mercy on him, but that poor lady didn't deserve his ruthlessness and whether there's a codefendant or not, we'll investigate," Sheriff Ashley said.

Sheriff Ashley said they have not made a second arrest at this time.

Officials said Murphy knew Williams and was dating her granddaughter.