An Ashland teen will stand trial on first-degree murder charges for the brutal killing of his custodial father in December 2013.
A doctor with the Wisconsin Forensics Unit determined that 14-year-old Joseph Ackley is competent to stand trial for the Dec. 16 death of 52-year-old William Saari. Ackley was in Ashland County Court on Tuesday for a competency hearing in the case. He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
Police said Ackley stabbed Saari 37 times, and also shot him. He also tried to kill Saari’s wife and exchanged gunfire with responding officers, authorities said.
The teenager will be back in court on April 4
