Stillman Valley Fatal Home Invasion Latest

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Posted: 10:32 PM Apr 10, 2008
Last Updated: 3:41 PM Apr 17, 2008
Reporter: Alice Barr

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New information about the fatal shooting of a 14-year old boy, who allegedly broke into a Stillman Valley home to steal guns. Two other juveniles accused of breaking in with him have been arrested. But it's an 18-year old Rockford man that investigators believe is most to blame.
"If it wasn't for Cody Moore, this whole thing never would have happened," says Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel.
Beitel says tips from Crimestoppers and other sources led deputies to arrest 18-year old Cody Wayne Moore Tuesday during a traffic stop in Rockford. Moore and two juveniles are charged with residential burglary, for allegedly breaking in to a Stillman Valley house.
"Moore knew the homeowner, he knew the homeowner had guns there, he knew the homeowner wasn't going to be there and he drove them there," says Beitel.
Ogle County authorities also arrested a 16-year old in Rockford Tuesday night and a 15-year old turned himself in Wednesday. Their names are not being released.
Investigators say Moore waited in the car, while the 15 and 16-year olds and another boy, 14-year old Travis Castle broke into the house.
Sheriff Beitle said Thursday the boys were not armed when they entered the home, but they allegedly grabbed firearms inside, along with money and other property.
A housesitter caught the boys in the act. He says Castle pointed a gun at him, so he shot and killed the boy.
Beitel will not release the shooter's name. He believes he was acting in self-defense and should not be charged with a crime.
"I've talked with him at length, I know he's very upset by what happened, he's devastated by it," says Beitel.
Meanwhile Castle's family is dealing with their own devastation.
Castle's mother Kim Britton says, "I mean why didn't he just shoot up in the air, the kid would have ran, he would have ran."
But as much as they run the scenario through their minds, Castle's family can't erase the night's tragic consequences.
Moore is being held in the Ogle County jail on half a million dollars bond. The 15 and 16-year olds are in juvenile detention centers. Their names will not be released unless the Ogle County State's Attorney decides to try them as adults.
Sheriff Beitel will meet with the state's attorney next week. He could decide to hold the teens accountable for Castle's death and they could be charged with murder.
There was a similar fatal home invasion in Winnebago County recently, where the accomplices were charged with murder, instead of the resident who actually killed the intruder.
I spoke to Moore's family Thursday night. They declined to make any comments about their son's involvement.

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Posted by: someone that knows the story Location: rockford on Jun 19, 2009 at 01:22 PM
ok for those who say that we war trying to make excuse no we arent it is the simple fact that we have big time bullies out in this world that threatin the lifes of younger ones to do the dirty work exactly what happened here ****** are known gang bangers in the rockford area and those 2 are the ones to threatin the 3 boys to do it but when u think about it who is the ones that got out of the car ???? the 3 younger boys while the older 2 sat in the car hmmmm no excuses just a BIG deal that nobody is seeing it from the families eyes of the young boys they messed up big time and now are paying the price for it and i also agree that if someone came into my home while my family was sleeping i would do the same and grab my gun and shot them no doubt in my mind im not upset at the home sitter for what he did im p***** off at the boys for what they did and the older boys for putting them in this situation now there are 3 families that are suffering with a lose

Posted by: chelsea castle Location: durand IL on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:43 PM
to all those people out there that are talking and putting my brother down you can just keep your mouth shut because you dont know the whole story. my brother was a good kid loved horses fourwheelers dirtbikes and never stole anything. and for all you parents that think that you know where your kids are at, at all times you better think again. my brother was staying at a friends house on a school night yes but he is home schooled and didnt have homework to do until later on the next day so he was supposed to be at home in the morning but never showed up so i went looking for him and couldnt find him. its not like he had it all planed out just two older kids (18 & 19) started talking about it and influenced three younger boys to go into the house. they were not going to keep the guns they were giving them to the older boys and get alot of money from it.most of you dont know that once those boys were there they didnt want to go in but anothy shleby made them get out ..

Posted by: alexis Location: iowa on Oct 22, 2008 at 11:18 PM
so many people had so many things to say about this, i would like to see their comments if the boy were in there family, and they thought they knew where there child was and ended up the same way. maybe there was no school the next day, kids do have days off ya know. not saying this was one of those days but it is a possibility and i know wheni was 14 i called my parents and told them/ asked them if i could stay at a friends house, that doesnt make him a bad kid...and when he is 14 and not even five foot, maybe the 6 foot man could tell he was small, but alcohol does sometimes impaire decisions

Posted by: Friend of the family Location: USA on Apr 30, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Why aren't autopsy records being released to the independent coroner? Why is the family not being given Travis's belongings at the time of his death. Why is Ogle County not cooperating with this family? Smells of a cover-up to what really happened

Posted by: friend of family Location: USA on Apr 24, 2008 at 04:02 AM
Speaking as a friend of Travis's family, he was a very good kid, just made 1 tragic mistake. Everybody that has kids knows that sometimes they do not make the best decisions, especially when influenced my someone older that they consider a "friend".Travis had great potential and now because of the influence he was under by the other teens, the world will never know how great he would have been. A person does have every right to defend themselves, their home, and their family. It is just truly a shame it all had to end like this. At the same time, the man that shot him will have to live the rest of his life knowing he killed a child. It is also only his word that Travis actually pointed a gun at him. In the dark and probably half asleep, who really knows what happened. The whole thing is a tragidy for all involved.

Posted by: Doesn't Matter Location: Rockford on Apr 12, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I feel sorry for all families involved. For the family of Travis when time has passed maybe you can look at this as your son stopped maybe more deaths! What were they going to do with these guns? Possibly kill others? God Bless

Posted by: TERESA Location: ROSCOE IL on Apr 12, 2008 at 02:37 PM
WHY WAS A 14 YR OLD STAYING THE NIGHT AT A FRIENDS HOUSE ON A SCHOOL NIGHT, WHEN HE SHOULD OF BEEN HOME WITH HIS FAMILY. I FEEL FOR THE FAMILY THAT LOST THERE CHILD AND FOR THE SHOOTER AN HIS FAMILY THE SHOOTER WAS PROTECTING HIM SELF HE ALSO HAS A FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Posted by: Justin Location: Rockford on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:35 AM
SHoot in the air?!?!?! that is incredible, no way, u step in a man's house, and have guns, prepare to pay the price. When you think of home invasion, think if you were sleeping and a bunch of men (he didnt know that was a boy) broke into your house holding guns. That would be sickening, and you dont know if they are going to kill you. When that kid shot and killed Sean Taylor from the NFL in his OWN HOME, he did it because he was SCARED! Not a cold-blooded killer but just scared.Someone comes in my house, I will light them up like a christmas tree, no shots wil be directed anywhere but at the intruders.

Posted by: Susan Location: Rockford on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:24 AM
It seems there are axcuses for this boy. He entered the house, he committed the act. I am verey sorry for what happened and I pray for the family, but it was his own actions. And why was he so far from home. Do you know where your kids are?

Posted by: Mary on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Having a 14 year old myself,I could not bare the burdon of loosing a child,no matter what the reason.My heart goes out to the Family that's left behind hurting so badly an wondering why this happened to them.They will never really know why this happened.It's such a horriable thing what this world has become for our Children to grow up in.

Posted by: Lori Location: Rockford on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:06 AM
I also have a 14 year old and at 11 pm on a Sunday night, I know where my child is. We as parents can not allow our children to "make their own decisions". We need to step up to the plate, and be parents, even if that means we are not their best friend at the time. The parents knew Travis was running with a "bad crowd" - - if that is the case, then step in and get him either home, at a juvenile detention place . . . even jail!! At least he would still be alive today! I can not imagine losing my 14 year old son. My heart does ache heavily for this family. Let this be a wake up call to all parents.

Posted by: Wondering Location: Northern IL on Apr 11, 2008 at 06:42 AM
It is a shame that this young teen and his 3 friends were in the act of commiting a felony and they got caught. They were breaking the law and the 14 year old paid with his life. If convicted I hope that the other 3 get long prison terms so that they can think of the damage and heart break they have caused to 2 families.

Posted by: Joseph on Apr 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM
"Why didn't he shoot up in the air?" Maybe because that would be taking a huge gamble with his own life? If someone aims a gun at you....you assume they are going to follow through with killing you.

Posted by: concerned Location: Davis on Apr 10, 2008 at 10:38 PM
I am very sorry for this family's loss, but I have to wonder, why was this kid allowed to stay at a friends house on a school night?

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