By Don Jacobs of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A Jefferson County judge this week found 11-year-old Benny Nicolas Tiller guilty in the shotgun slaying of an 8-year-old White Pine girl and sentenced him to state custody until the age of 19.

Jefferson County Juvenile Court Judge Dennis “Will” Roach II on Monday deemed Benny guilty of being delinquent by reason of first-degree murder, according to a source knowledgeable of the case but who was not authorized to discuss the judge’s ruling.

In the meantime, Benny’s five siblings are in state custody, also, according to Rob Johnson, spokesman with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. The three boys and two girls have been placed with relatives, he said.

Roach’s ruling on Benny’s charge came after a two-day trial. Benny was ordered into the custody of the state Department of Children’s Services until the age of 19.

The judge ruled Benny was in need of treatment and rehabilitation, according to the source.

Benny was being held Thursday at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center in Knoxville awaiting transfer to state authorities.

Benny was accused of shooting McKayla Dyer, 8, once in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System emergency room.

McKayla was playing with her 11-year-old sister, Kattie Dyer, and another girl, also 11, who lives in the mobile home park along Robin Road in White Pine, according to the manager of the mobile home park.

The three girls were standing outside Benny’s bedroom window talking to him before the shooting. From his bedroom, Benny asked about a puppy McKayla had been carrying earlier in the day.

It is unclear exactly what transpired between Benny and the girls, but authorities said Benny got his father’s shotgun and aimed it out the window. He fired once at McKayla before tossing the firearm and a pellet pistol from the bedroom window and closed it, the park manager said.

Both of Benny’s parents were in the mobile home at the time of the shooting. Neither parent came out of the residence during the incident until the arrival of Jefferson County sheriff’s officers, the park manager said.

Johnson said most state services for children involved in a criminal offense are geared for teens. Benny is awaiting a decision by Children’s Services on where to place him.

“Like any other child, we will conduct an assessment on him to determine his needs and the best place for him,” Johnson said.

“At this time, it would probably be a placement with a private provider. An 11-year-old is too young to place in one of our youth development centers.”

Jimmy Dunn, district attorney general for the Fourth Judicial District, on Thursday said Roach told officials they could not discuss the case because of Benny’s age.

Dunn said that although the judge has ruled on Benny’s charge, the case is not closed. Dunn said he is reviewing the investigation to determine if charges are warranted for anyone else involved in the incident. He declined to say if Benny’s parents were the subjects of his review.

More details as they develop online and in Friday’s News Sentinel.

Past coverage:

DA: No decision made about trying White Pine boy, 11, as adult in slaying of girl, 8

Video: White Pine mobile home park manager describes murder scene

White Pine boy, 11, not the youngest to face charges in an East Tenn. slaying

Questions abound in shotgun slaying of 8-year-old girl

Jefferson County sheriff: 11-year-old boy charged in shooting death of girl, 8