SAN ANTONIO -- Bexar County chief juvenile prosecutor Jill Mata said David Childress and his 14-year-old friend, James Hartmangruber, are expected to face murder charges for allegedly killing Meda Childress. The case still under investigation and police are reviewing statements both boys gave to them.

If the teens are charged in the killing, the next decision will be to whether to try them as juveniles or adults.

"Some states even have a younger age ... but Texas is 14. At 14, you can be tried as an adult for a first-degree felony," said Bexar County Chief Juvenile Prosecutor Jill Mata.

Mata said they would look at the offense and what part each teen played in possibly committing the crime. "And then you look at other factors like the background of the child, any prior problems they've had with the law, what their behavior was like at school, and any other aggravating and mitigating circumstances in their lives," she said.

Some have described the victim's son as a smart but troubled teenager. Authorities said his friend had no discipline problems.

"It's just always sad that someone, particularly someone that young, could commit such a horrible crime, and especially against a parent," Mata said.

If prosecutors think the teens can be reformed, they still could be assessed adult jail terms as juveniles. They would start out at the Texas Youth Commission. If no progress is made, they'd go on to the penitentiary by the time they turn 18.