Judge to consider Mathew Fox youthful offender status - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

A judge said she would take giving Matthew Fox youthful offender status under advisement.

Fox is one of four suspects in the murder of Amanda Taylor.

Fox is charged with abuse of a corpse and hindering prosecution. Investigators said he helped Taylor's suspected killer, Ronald Weems, dispose of the victim's body.

Fox was supposed to appear before a judge in June to try to get youthful offender status, but officers said they did not have the paperwork ready.

The hearing on Thursday only lasted about five minutes and the judge said she would take the request for youthful offender status under advisement.

During the hearing, Fox's attorneys said he is "not some monster" and that he got himself into a situation he couldn't get out of.

"So far, we're all doing pretty well. We have our days that are better than others," said Taylor's father, Billy Leeth.

It's been nearly eight months since Amanda Taylor's remains were discovered at a location off Gnat Pond Road in Colbert County.

Leeth said his family takes each day as it comes.

"It's hard on the siblings, it's hard on myself and my wife, but we just take it one day at a time. The good Lord keeps us through," he said.

Since his daughter's death, Leeth has turned to Facebook as a way of healing.

"It's sort of therapy that I use - been using it ever since this started. I just focus all my energies there and try to get things going there for the Amanda Alert, and things like that helps me and vent a little bit," he said.

The family has started a petition for an Amanda Alert.

Their hope is to eliminate the 48-hour waiting period when it comes to reporting a missing adult.

The trial dates for those connected with Taylor's murder have changed several times in the last few months.

The family said the healing process has been difficult, but they are prepared to see this case through until the end. 

Leeth said the delayed trial dates and not knowing what's next is the hardest part about the process.

"You look for one date and then it comes up and it goes away. It builds you up and then lets you down, and that's the hardest part of it, is the emotional roller coaster that you have," he said.

The other three people connected with Amanda Taylor's murder are expected to go to trial in October, but the DAs office said forensics may push it back until after the first of the year.

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