Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — A West Chester police detective testified Tuesday that a teenage girl accused in the fatal stabbing of a Florida man led police to the murder weapons used in the killing.

After hearing testimony from police, Butler County Area III Court Judge Robert Hendrickson bound the cases of Michael Douglass of Middletown and Roger Whitten of Hamilton, both 18, over to a grand jury.

The men and Whitten's 16-year-old sister, are accused of the Nov. 12 stabbing death of Sabyasachi Debnath, 31, at the Tri-County Inn in West Chester Twp. All three are being charged with murder.

Both men are being held at the Butler County Jail on $1 million bond.

Whitten's sister, held at the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center, is scheduled to appear in Butler County Juvenile Court Nov. 26 for a preliminary hearing, during which time Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Glenn Rossi said the county will ask that she be tried as an adult.

West Chester Police Detective Steve Beck described how police found Debnath.

"A desk was turned over, the headboard was broken," he said. "There were also many areas that had visible signs of blood."

Beck said police tracked the suspects through the use of the victim's cell phone and credit cards, arresting them that evening at the Hamilton Inn in Hamilton. He said three knives were recovered.

Beck said that statements by Whitten's sister led them to the knives.

"Did she say who was responsible?" asked Douglass' attorney Brad Kraemer.

"She indicated both of them," Beck said.

Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said he will give the grand jury the option of a capital punishment charge,