LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Four years after being convicted of murder as a teenager, Chance Guthrie will be transferred to an adult prison after he turns 18.
April 14, 2021, was a day that forever changed the lives of the Thiele family. Just before 4 p.m., then 14-year-old Guthrie shot and killed 14-year-old Darrin Thiele, a tragedy that left a family grieving and a community shaken.
"It's traumatizing," said Brandy Beckman, Darrin's aunt. "Just bringing back everything, from the day that it happened."
Darrin was rushed to University of Louisville Hospital in critical condition, but despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries. His death left an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who loved him.
His grandmother, Tammy Hatfield, cherishes the memories they shared, holding onto a special picture of the two of them together. But she is left with lingering questions—ones she fears may never be answered.
"I would love to go face to face and say, why? Why?" Hatfield said, her voice filled with pain.
As Guthrie was led into court, the sound of metal ankle bracelets echoed with each step. His eyes scanned the courtroom—first looking toward his family in the gallery, then turning to the judge who held his fate in her hands.
"You are a young man, and it is always heartbreaking to see a child grow up in the correctional system. It's not healthy," Jefferson County District Judge Annie O'Connell said.
Guthrie was sentenced to six years and six months in juvenile detention for his actions. Recently, he had hoped to be granted probation, but the judge denied his request. Now turning 18, he will serve the remainder of his sentence among adult inmates, an outcome that brought a measure of relief to the Thiele family.
"Kids today aren't actually being kids," Beckman said. "They're out here making adult choices and adult decisions when they have no business doing so. They should be playing with their friends, playing video games, and going to school—the things I got to do as a child."
This tragedy is a grim reflection of a growing issue in Louisville. Data from the city shows that 18 children were murdered in 2024, nearly a 40% increase from the previous year. The rising violence among youth has left families and communities on edge.
"It's just terrifying to think that kids can go there, and that they're not afraid to take another child's life or even an adult's life," Beckman added.
As the year progresses, Guthrie could be released from prison by the end of 2025. But for the Thiele family, the pain of their loss will never fade, and the question of "why?" may always remain unanswered.
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