Family of Grace Ross fears convicted killer could be released in upcoming hearing

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- It's been more than five years since the horrific murder of a young girl stunned the Michiana community.

Six-year-old Grace Ross was molested and murdered in the woods near her home in New Carlisle in March 2021.

Her convicted killer 19-year-old Anthony Hutchens is due back in court next Friday and Grace's family is terrified about the possibility of his release.

The only thing Kelli Howard has left of her only grandbaby is videos, photos, and precious memories.

"She was just getting to an age where I was starting to let her help in the kitchen, you know with the thoughts of someday passing down recipes and passing down family heirlooms and trinkets that were female oriented, you know," says Kelli Howard, grandmother of Grace Ross.

Grace would have turned twelve years old this month.

"I have to look at other 12-year-olds and wonder how tall my granddaughter would be and what she would look like, what she would like now," Howard says. "Next year, I'll have to wonder what she'd be like at thirteen, then the year after, the year after, it never ends."

It's been more than five years since Grace's death, but the heartbreak is something her family and her nana, Kelli, lives with every day.

"I still hear the pounding on my door sometimes and have to get up and check and see if someone's out there with more bad news. I hear it in my sleep," Howard admits.

Right now, she says the pain is even worse with a looming court date for her granddaughter's convicted killer next week.

Kelli and the whole family fears Hutchens, who was fourteen at the time of the murder, will be released.

Hutchens was sentenced to 64 years, but it was suspended.

Last October, Judge Jeffrey Sanford decided to keep him in a juvenile facility until the next review of his case which is coming up on October 23.

When he's in the courtroom, he will either be required to continue serving his time, placed into a work-release program, or even released.

"If he lets him go because of some post-arrest diagnosis of some mental disorder, that is going to open the door for anybody and everybody that has the slightest little diagnosis to get away with murder, and they will city my granddaughter's death as the reason why and I can't have that either," says Howard.

Grace's family won't stop fighting for justice, and to them, that's Hutchens serving maximum time in adult prison and answers.

"Ugh. So many questions, so many," Howard says.

And for Kelli, protecting other potential victims from the hands of her granddaughter's murderer.

"Do you want him living next door to your grandchild, or your daughter, your little 6-year-old daughter? Do you want him to move in next door to you?" Howard asks.

Hutchens will be in Saint Joseph County Superior Court at 9am Friday, October 23.

ABC57 news has requested to have a camera in court for the hearing.