A weekend slaying in Northside left a 13-year-old girl dead and a boy she knew charged with her violent, bloody death.

        Cincinnati homicide detectives Tuesday afternoon arrested a 16-year-old boy in the death of Mary Hall. They charged him with murder and kidnapping.

Mary Hall

        Police did not identify the boy because he is a juvenile. Investigators said little about how the girl and the boy knew each other, only that they were acquaintances.

        Alice Snyder of Northside, a relative of Mary, said Mary claimed to have a 16-year-old boyfriend, but she doesn't know whether that is the boy who has been arrested.

        “He fits the description,” she said.

        Ms. Snyder said she often saw Mary by herself, “walking up and down the street,” and the last time she saw her, Mary “looked like she was waiting for someone.”

        She said family members had to identify the girl by her clothing because she was so badly beaten.

        “I find it so hard to believe that a 16-year-old could have done all those things to her by himself. There must have been someone else with him.”

        Lt. Mike Jones, commander of the homicide unit, said he could not give details because the investigation is continuing. He would not say what led investigators to the 16-year-old, nor how they think he killed Mary.

        Mary's body was found Sunday afternoon in a long-vacant building at the corner of Dane and Chase avenues.

        A worker who called police to report the body described the scene as very bloody.

        Mary was last seen Saturday about 7:30 p.m. when she left her house nearby to visit a friend.

        She was found in the building, a former corner store with apartments above, about 2 p.m. Sunday.

        Mary was a fifth-grade student at Chase Intermediate School. She had recently transferred there from St. Boniface Catholic school.

        The girl's relatives will get financial help from a fund established Tuesday by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

        Mary and her mother belonged to St. Boniface Parish in Northside and parishioners want to help the family with funeral expenses.

        Contributions can be sent c/o The Northside Bank and Trust Co., 4125 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati 45223.

        Detectives also welcome more tips to Crime Stoppers, 352-3040. Callers remain anonymous and can be paid for their information.

       Reporter Marie McCain contributed to this story.
       

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