A 17-year-old is being charged as an adult in connection with the fatal stabbing of Kaytlin Root at Krug Park in October.

Amanda Donna Bennett has been charged in Buchanan County Court as an adult with a felony of second-degree murder.  She we previously charged in juvenile court because she was 16 at the time of the offense.  Root’s body was found Oct. 16 by a runner along a trail in the park.

Co-defendant Sebastian Dowell appeared in court Thursday and entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the case.  He’s due back in court in February.  He continues to be held without bail in the Buchanan County Jail.

According to court documents, Bennett and Dowell lured Root to meet them at a location in St. Joseph.  Root was alleged urged not to tell anyone who she was meeting.  The three of them allegedly rode around for awhile and eventually went to Krug Park.

“Once there the three people walked to a secluded area where the victim was rendered unconscious,” said Det. Greg Ogdahl in court documents.  “The victim was then stabbed or cut more then twice and died from the injuries.”

If convicted of the charge Bennett could face a penalty of 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole until after 85 percent of any sentence ordered has been served.

A judge set bail at $250,000 cash and scheduled Bennett’s first court appearance December 13.