Cathleen Boyer

Cathleen Boyer is a girl who, at the age of 16, murdered 18-year-old Kayla VanWert. The murder occurred on May 29, 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The pair had been friends but got into an online feud over a boy. VanWet claimed Jorge DeJesus, father of her child, was romantically involved with Boyer. After exchanging online threats, the pair met up to settle the argument in an alleyway where the murder occurred. VanWert died in hospital from stab wounds afterwards.

Boyer initially claimed self-defense but in July 2017 admitted third-degree murder, which carried a maximum of forty years in prison. She was 17 when she pleaded guilty. In October 2017 she was sentenced to between 7 and 20 years in prison. Seven years is the minimum sentence; 20 years was what the prosecution wanted. She had previously tried, and failed, to get her case moved to juvenile court.