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Burlington Boy Faces 9 Charges In Parents' Deaths

BURLINGTON, Colo. (AP) - New documents released Monday in the case of a 12-year-old Colorado boy accused of fatally shooting his parents and wounding two siblings show prosecutors filed nine charges against him, including two counts of first-degree murder.

The documents released by a judge at the request of prosecutors also offer new details from investigators alleging the boy tried to hurt his 5-year-old sister with a knife and stabbed and shot his 9-year-old brother. The documents were released after a closed court hearing.

Police said they found the bodies of Charles and Marilyn Long on March 1 after the body called 911 to report a shooting at their Burlington home, about 140 miles east of Denver and near the Kansas state line.

Prosecutors have not decided whether to charge the boy as an adult.

The case is still under a gag order, which prevents officials from discussing the case. However, the ruling by a Kit Carson County judge will allow for some aspects of the case to be public, including the charges filed and hearing dates. The court proceedings are still closed to the media and the public. The court documents outlining the specific charges -- and the details of what investigators said happened -- had been sealed until Monday.

KUSA-TV said 13th Judicial District Attorney Bob Watson told the media he decided to release some information to address rumors.

"Between the social networking, Facebook, Twitter, various blog sites, the information is out there pretty quick and quite often that information is absolutely wrong," Watson said. He said the case "is a matter of important public concern."

The boy's siblings are expected to recover from their injuries.

Charles and Marilyn Long, both in their early 50s, had seven children. Four are grown and no longer live at home. Marilyn Long homeschooled her kids and ran the children's ministry at the local Evangelical Free Church. Her husband served as a church elder and was a snack delivery driver.

The couple was buried Friday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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