GALLATIN, TN – A Tennessee judge has ruled that Fernando Perales Mejia, a 17-year-old accused of murdering another teenager, will be tried as an adult. The decision follows the late June killing of 17-year-old Trinity Lei Bostic.
The case against Mejia, initially kept under wraps with his identity not disclosed, has unfolded rapidly since his arrest. Details emerged in a mid-July police affidavit, around the same time prosecutors announced their intention to try Mejia as an adult.
This week’s judicial ruling in Sumner County enables District Attorney General Ray Whitley to proceed with an adult trial.
The investigation into Bostic’s disappearance began when she was reported missing as a runaway on the evening of July 29.
Despite efforts to trace her cell phone to locations outside Macon County, search efforts were initially unsuccessful. The case gained traction as Sumner County agencies were alerted and began their investigation, leading to significant developments and the subsequent arrest of Mejia.
