MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — UPDATE, 6:30 p.m.:
Monroe County District Attorney Jonathan Adams says 16-year-old Candace Walton had an online relationship with a boyfriend in Oregon. According to him, it appears she was on her way to him when she was arrested in Kentucky.
"There was a tax rebate that was cashed by the mom that was stolen, we believe by Candace, and she stole mom's car, the cash rebate, and was driving to Oregon to visit the boyfriend essentially to start over a new life," said Adams.
Though their relationship was mostly online, the District Attorney says there is evidence they met in person at least once before the fire he says Walton set at her own home.
For the first time, Adams released a preliminary cause of death for the two victims.
He says the full medical examiner's report has not been completed, but preliminary results indicate it was the fire that killed Walton's mother, Tasha Vandiver, and special needs brother, Gerald Walton.
"The preliminary [indication] is that it was the fire, it was the smoke inhalation that killed them," said Adams.
Walton is now charged with arson, theft by taking, and two counts of murder.
So far, the District Attorney says there is no evidence connecting the boyfriend to the crimes, and his name is not being released.
However Adams called him a "person of interest."
Investigators are still working the case, and if new evidence ties him to the crimes, he'll be charged like Walton.
"If he made a plan with her or if he guided her in any way then what I would be looking at is charging him as party to this crime," said Adams.
The DA says even if she's convicted, Walton won't be eligible for the death penalty because she's too young.
Putting a sentence of life without parole into play also involves clearing some legal hurdles, but Adams says his office will seek a hearing to put that potential sentence on the table.
However, he notes, a lesser sentence could be recommended, if Walton decides to plead guilty.
"If you're accepting responsibility for your actions and if you serve your sentence and you do well in prison and you go through rehabilitation...everybody is redeemable at some point and time, whether that's at death or that is after 30 or 40 years in prison," he said.
Currently, Walton is still in custody in Kentucky, fighting extradition.
Adams says his office is putting together what's known as a "governor's warrant" to bring her back to Georgia.
Adams says it will be up to a Kentucky judge to make the decision, once the warrant is delivered.
However, he says, it's extremely rare for another state to deny extradition.
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The boyfriend of a 16-year-old girl accused of murdering her brother and mom has been identified as a person of interest in a Monroe County fatal fire.
Last week, Candace Walton was charged with arson, theft by taking, and two counts of murder after her mother and special-needs brother were found dead in their home.
Walton was found in Kentucky the day after the fire.
Jonathan Adams, district attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, says they believe she was taking off to join her online boyfriend in Oregon.
At this time, the district attorney's office is not releasing the boyfriend's name.
Adams says right now, they're just looking at him as a person of interest, unless they find out that he helped Walton. Then, he could also face charges.
While the medical examiner's report isn't complete yet, the district attorney's office says they believe Walton's brother and mom died from the fire and were not killed before the fire.
Right now, Walton is in Kentucky fighting extradition to Georgia. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says they're working on filing a "Governor's Warrant" to bring her back.
If Walton is convicted on all charges, she is not eligible for the death penalty because of her age, according to Adams.
Adams says putting a life sentence without parole in play also requires clearing some legal hurdles when dealing with a minor. However, his office will seek a hearing to put that potential sentence on the table.
He notes, however, a lesser sentence could be handed down if Walton pleads guilty.
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