NASHVILLE — A 13-year-old boy accused in the murder of an 84-year-old man will be tried as an adult, a judge ordered Thursday.

Blade Reed has been waived to adult court on murder and robbery charges in the death of Richard “Dude” Voland, who was killed at his home in November.

Reed also is accused of attacking Voland’s wife, Mary, during the home invasion. Other charges he faces, including battery, burglary and theft, will remain in the juvenile justice system.

His 17-year-old brother, Bennie Reed, who also faces murder and other charges, is scheduled for trial as an adult Aug. 17.

Brown Circuit Court Judge Judith Stewart ordered Blade Reed to adult court, because she said it is in the best interest of the community’s welfare and safety.

She said “there is no way to know for sure” how Reed will respond to the juvenile system’s rehabilitation efforts, and that releasing him without complete rehabilitation would put the community at risk.

If Reed proceeded through the juvenile system, he would have served a maximum of about four years, until he turns 18.

A conviction in adult court would require a sentence of 45 to 65 years. With Indiana’s good-time credit, Reed could be released no earlier than age 35.

State law requires a child older than 10 who allegedly commits a serious offense to be waived to adult court unless it is shown that the child’s interests and community’s interests benefit from the child remaining in the juvenile justice system.

Stewart said she took into consideration the violent nature of the charges, the child’s history, which included abuse and aggressive behavior, and the availability of a youthful offender unit in the state prison system.

The unit confines offenders younger than 18 and partially separates them from adult offenders. Young offenders have to participate in a GED program and are offered mental health and substance abuse treatment and counseling college courses.

A court-appointed psychiatrist recommended Reed remain in the juvenile system, because he suffers from hyperactivity and is socially isolated, emotionally restrictive and vulnerable to the influence of others.

The judge said the psychiatrist’s testimony was persuasive on the issue of Reed’s best interests, but less informative on the community’s best interests.

Stewart’s order states that “the evidence as a whole has failed to show that the best interests of the welfare and safety of the community are served by maintaining the child in the juvenile system.”

She also said “the safety of the community remains at risk if he is found to have committed the acts and is returned to the community without complete rehabilitation.”

Reed, who was being held at Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center, was ordered to be held without bond at Brown County Jail.

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