Katelynn Arnold's grandfather speaks about her death - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Katelynn Arnold's grandfather speaks about her death

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By Arielle Clay - bio | email
School portrait of Katelynn Arnold. She was a third grader at Ragland Elementary School. School portrait of Katelynn Arnold. She was a third grader at Ragland Elementary School.
Katelynn Arnold's grandfather, John Henry Arnold. Katelynn Arnold's grandfather, John Henry Arnold.
John Henry Arnold looks through family photographs of Katelynn and her family. He says he believes Katelynn's death was an accident and says she and her older brother, who is charged with her murder, got along well. John Henry Arnold looks through family photographs of Katelynn and her family. He says he believes Katelynn's death was an accident and says she and her older brother, who is charged with her murder, got along well.
A family photo from Christmas shows Katelynn, her mother, brother and sister. A family photo from Christmas shows Katelynn, her mother, brother and sister.
Katelynn's 14-year-old half-brother, who has not been identified since he is a juvenile, is charged with her murder. The judge has not yet decided if he will be tried as an adult. Katelynn's 14-year-old half-brother, who has not been identified since he is a juvenile, is charged with her murder. The judge has not yet decided if he will be tried as an adult.
CALHOUN COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -

John Henry Arnold has few tangible reminders of his nine-year-old granddaughter Katelynn Arnold. At his Choccolocco home, Arnold pulls out two drawings the girl made for him.

"I wouldn't take nothing for these pictures," he said.

He also brings out a few photographs. One is a Christmas portrait of Katelynn, her mother, sister and brother. It is that brother that St. Clair County investigators say is responsible for the third grader's death. Arnold has a hard time believing that.

"Being a murderer. No, he's too loving. Loved to have fun and him and Katelynn got along good. So why would he do that?" Arnold said.

The brother is accused of using a rope attached to a tree limb to hang his sister. Investigators say the 14-year-old told them he meant to kill the girl. But Arnold worries his grandson did not have proper representation when making that statement to law enforcement.

"I think it was accidental," he said. "I've never seen him angry or aggressive or nothing like that."

The kids were living with an aunt and uncle in Ragland and Arnold says that had been the case for about four years as their biological mother worked through some issues.

"If she had problems and was working on them, the kids were where they should be," he said. "She's not handling this very well at all."

Arnold says he's also having a hard time dealing with this. He feels his hands are tied as he deals with the accusations against one of his grandchildren and the loss of another.

"She was a smart little girl and she was pretty little girl and I'm going to miss her," Arnold said.

Katelynn's funeral is being held Monday, May 14 at Hardin Chapel Baptist Church in Ragland.

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