Trial moved to October for Cedar Rapids teen charged with killing parents

Feb. 3, 2022 5:06 pm, Updated: Feb. 4, 2022 7:38 am

Ethan Orton appears for a competency hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 2022. Orton is charged with fatally stabbing his father, Casey Orton, and mother, Misty Scott-Slade, in their home on Oct. 14, 2021. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

CEDAR RAPIDS — The trial for a Cedar Rapids teen charged with killing his parents with a knife and an ax has been reset to Oct. 18.

Lawyers for Ethan Alexander Orton, 17, charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder, said they needed more time to prepare for that case and hadn’t received all the discovery evidence at this time. The trial was set to start Tuesday.

Orton waived his right to a speedy trial, and Assistant Linn County Attorney Mike Harris didn’t resist resetting the trial. Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill granted the change.

The case had been temporarily suspended until last month because Thornhill allowed the defense to have Orton evaluated for competency. The evaluation found the teen competent — he understands the charges against him and is able to assist his lawyers with his defense at trial — the judge said during a previous hearing.

Orton’s lawyer then filed a notice of defense following that hearing, stating he “may rely on the defenses of insanity and diminished responsibility” at trial.

Orton is accused of fatally stabbing his parents, Casey Arthur Orton, 42, and Misty Scott-Slade, 41, on Oct. 14 at their home in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids police received a 911 call about 2:10 a.m. Oct. 14 regarding suspicious noises coming from the Orton house at 361 Carnaby Dr. NE, according to a criminal complaint.

Officers said they found the teen soaked in blood outside the home and that Orton admitted to killing his parents, who were found inside the home. He stabbed both parents with a knife and used an ax to finish killing his mother, he told investigators.

Orton said he killed them “to take charge of his life,” according to the complaint.

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The teen remains in jail under a $2 million cash-only bail. First-degree murder is a life sentence without parole, but because he is a juvenile, he would have the opportunity for parole if convicted.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com