(South Bend, IN) - After over two years, the wheels have justice have turned full-circle on a grisly murder case in New Carlisle.

In January, Anthony Hutchens was convicted in the molestation and death of 6-year-old Grace Ross behind their New Carlisle apartment complex. The crime took place March 12th, 2021. Since then, attorneys for Hutchens, who was 14-years-old at the time, have tried to keep the case in the juvenile courts. Hutchens’ autistic mental condition was also used as a defense.

However, on Friday, Hutchens was sentenced to 55 years in prison for murder and 9 years for child molesting. He will continue serving time in juvenile detention. A formal review in a couple of years will decide his fate from there.

Jeff Kimmell, one of Hutchens' attorneys, explained that the sentence modification "doesn't necessarily mean that Anthony's going to be released at any particular time, but it offers the opportunity for him to get treatment and services."