Kennewick teen pleads guilty to kidnapping his great-grandmother

The great-grandson of an elderly Kennewick woman, who was stuffed inside her own car trunk and driven about six hours into Oregon, has pleaded guilty to his role in that November crime.

Dyllan K. Martin, 17, pled this week to his original charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.

The kidnapping charge includes aggravating circumstances that Hazel Abel, now 87, was vulnerable and the crime was deliberately cruel.

Those factors are what’s leading Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Terry Bloor to recommend a 14-year sentence, nearly double the standard range for kidnapping.

Martin had no felony history before this case.

His attorney, Alexandria Sheridan, can argue for time within the range of five years and seven months to seven years and five months.

Sentencing is set for May 12 in Benton County Superior Court.

Martin’s co-defendant and friend, Billy J. Underwood, is scheduled to be sentenced on that same date.

He also is facing a recommended sentence of 14 years after pleading guilty to the same charges last month.

A third co-defendant, KateLynn Kenfield, was convicted of first-degree kidnapping, residential burglary and second-degree vheicle theft.

She has been ordered to serve 2 to 2  1/2 years in a state juvenile institution. She’s appealing her convictions.

The two boys and Underwood’s then-girlfriend planned to run away and wanted to use Abel’s 2001 Dodge Neon.

Martin and Underwood also reportedly discussed ways to kill Abel and dispose of her body, and Underwood even scouted canyons and remote areas where they could leave her to die from exposure.

On Nov. 2, Abel was gagged, her face covered and her hands tied, and eventually placed in the Dodge’s trunk with her Chihuahua, Tessa.

After driving for hours, the teens stopped at a Walmart in Wood Village, Ore., to buy food and other supplies, according to court documents and testimony.

Once the car was parked, Abel freed her hands, found the latch to release the trunk lid and escaped with her dog. She got help from store employees, who called 911 and provided her with fresh clothing and water.

Martin, who was 16 when he kidnapped his great-grandmother, was automatically charged as an adult.

His case was on hold for four months while he underwent two mental health evaluations after Sheridan raised concerns. A judge ruled in mid-April that he was competent to stand trial.

Underwood, 15, saw his case bumped up to adult court in December after a judge followed the recommendation of juvenile justice officials.

And Kenfield’s case remained in Juvenile Court. She was 14 when she helped her boyfriend and his friend.

Abel, who attended Kenfield’s sentencing in April, has told prosecutors that the incident left her frightened and insecure in her own home.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Kennewick teen pleads guilty to kidnapping his great-grandmother."