Teen accused of killing parents has trial reset to late 2022

Hunter
02/04/22

The Cedar Rapids teen accused of killing his parents to “take charge of his life” has had trial reset to later this year.

Court records indicate that 17-year-old Ethan Alexander Orton’s February 8th trial was delayed for a competency hearing. That hearing determined that Orton was aware of his actions and deemed competent to stand trial last month.
Orton’s attorneys indicated in a motion that they might use temporary insanity in their defense of the boy when they filed a motion for continuance.
Orton is being charged as an adult in the slayings of 41-year-old Misty Scott Slade and 42-year-old Casey Orton in their home.
The criminal complaint indicates that after getting a 911 call around 2am October 14th for suspicious noises coming from the home, the teenaged Orton was allegedly found outside the residence covered in blood. He reportedly told officers he had stabbed both his parents, and used an ax on his mother when he found she was still alive.
Judge Ian Thornhill this week reset the jury trial to begin October 18th, with a case management conference April 1.