WEST UNION, W.Va. — A Doddridge County teen accused of killing three of his family members will plead guilty to the crimes.
Joseph Spencer, 17, was scheduled to be in court on Monday but a plea hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Spencer is expected to plead guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his father Frederick Spencer III, 49, his mother Dixie Spencer, 47, and his 9-year-old sister Patience Spencer on Labor Day 2012.
The boy was 16 at the time of the shootings and reportedly told police officers he used his father’s 9mm handgun in the shootings before calling 911.
Spencer is facing the charges as an adult.
Spencer’s father was a longtime UPS pilot, while his mother was a Ritchie County Middle School science teacher. Spencer’s younger sister was a student at Doddridge County Elementary School.