Defense: Teen girl will take Kennewick kidnapping case to trial

The attorney for a Kennewick girl charged in the kidnapping of an elderly woman said Wednesday that they’ve been unable to resolve the case with prosecutors and likely will go to trial.

KateLynn Kenfield, 15, agreed to continue the trial to March 7 while attorneys Deric Orr and Scott Johnson finish preparing her defense.

The trial is expected to last three days.

During a brief hearing in Benton County Juvenile Court, Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Howell said there were discussions with the defense about a possible plea deal, but it does not appear there will be a resolution.

Orr confirmed to Court Commissioner Joseph Schneider that at this point his client will proceed to trial.

Kenfield is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary and vehicle theft.

She was 14 on Nov. 2 when she allegedly helped boyfriend Billy J. Underwood and Dyllan K. Martin abduct Martin’s great-grandmother, stash her in a car trunk with her dog and drive to Oregon. They stopped hours later at a Walmart in the Portland area, according to court documents.

The 86-year-old victim, Hazel Abel, escaped from the stopped car after freeing her hands and using the trunk release, documents said.

The cases of Underwood and Martin are being handled in adult court.

Orr previously has told the Herald that Kenfield “was in a pretty abusive relationship,” and that there is evidence of physical and psychological abuse.

The defense maintains that Kenfield was not as much a willing participant as investigators initially thought.

Kenfield has a second juvenile case from an Oct. 6 incident.

Prosecutors claim that during an argument, Kenfield threw makeup at her mother and slapped her on the face. The teen then kicked a bathroom door several times, putting holes in it, court documents said.

She has been charged with fourth-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief, both with domestic violence allegations.

Both of Kenfield’s cases have the same court dates. She is held in juvenile detention on $50,000 bail.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 9:29 PM with the headline "Defense: Teen girl will take Kennewick kidnapping case to trial."