A 16-year-old adopted teenager was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the state of Oklahoma, after allegedly killing his adoptive mother, Spring Weems, 49, inside their home in the city of Edmond, Logan County authorities reported.

According to prosecutors, The young man—identified as Jordan Cole Weems—allegedly repeatedly struck his mother with a hammer, causing her death, and then threw her body into a trash can on the sidewalk in front of the house. In addition to the primary charge of murder, the teenager faces charges of desecration of a human corpse and unauthorized removal of a body. A disappearance that raised alarms: Spring Weeks' disappearance was initially reported when one of her biological children went to the family home and noticed her absence. Although the accused teenager claimed his mother had left town to help a relative with a newborn, her vehicle remained parked in the driveway, and she was not answering calls or messages. With no word from her, the young man's father alerted the Logan County Sheriff's Office. Later, one of the adopted sons confessed that his brother had told him that he had killed their mother and that the body was in a trash can. The teenager was arrested Wednesday and agreed to speak with investigators. Charge of premeditated murder: According to court documents, the young man retrieved a hammer from the garage, waited for his mother to leave the kitchen, and then attacked her, continuing the assault until she stopped moving. He then moved the body to a trash can at the end of the driveway. The Logan County District Attorney's Office maintains that the crime was not impulsive but premeditated and filed a motion to deny bail. In it, prosecutors state that the teenager had threatened to kill his mother in the days prior and that he planned the attack in advance.

Background of family conflict

Investigators indicated that the young man and another adopted son had recent disciplinary problems, including nighttime escapes and encounters with the police. As punishment, the mother allegedly imposed strict disciplinary measures on them,including writing apology letters and restricting their access to their clothes and belongings. According to the indictment, the teenager was particularly resentful of being forced to wear an orange jumpsuit as a warning about the consequences of his behavior. Impact on the Community: Despite the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors acknowledged that the young man remains in a juvenile detention center, where they believe he receives more appropriate care. Neighbors in the quiet Cascata Falls neighborhood described Spring Weems as a devoted mother, deeply religious, active in Life Church, and very involved in raising her children. “It's a tragedy that has shaken the entire community,” a local resident told regional media. Authorities reported that they are working to ensure a safe home for the surviving adopted sons. Weems' body was taken to the medical examiner's office for a full autopsy.