HENDERSONVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A 15-year-old accused in the murder of his mother will find out Tuesday during a court hearing whether he'll be charged as an adult, according to the Sumner County Sheriff.
Police said the victim, Melanie Davis, 46, was bludgeoned to death in her own home on Gannett Road Friday night.
According to the Sumner County Sheriff's Department, the 16-year-old son of the victim called 911 after he woke up and discovered his mother dead and his house on fire.
Authorities said they arrested the 15-year-old son seven miles away after tracking his cell phone.
Melanie Davis was an athlete. A group of her friends gathered Saturday night after hearing the sad news.
"Today's just been a tough day," said Candy Owens, one of Davis's friends.
She said Davis always encouraged other athletes; although Davis would cross the finish line first, she would wait for the others to cross and cheer them on.
Joana Riddick was supposed to train with Davis at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, and was surprised when Davis didn't show up.
"It was not like her. So I went to look for her, then I found out," Riddick said.
Her friends said Davis didn't share much about her private life; they knew she enjoyed spending time with her two boys. They said if trouble was brewing in her life, there were no outward signs.
"The one thing, when I heard the news, what came to mind, was that smile. That smile of hers was contagious. I am going to miss that smile," said fellow athlete Mauricio Sanchez.
Her friends said Davis was a widow, and was raising her two teenage sons on her own. She lost her husband five years ago to Lou Gehrig's disease. She was born in Austria and most of her family still lives there, they said.
"We all see each other almost daily. We have a tight-knit family in our triathlon group. and it's like a member of our family is gone," said Shawn Walker, one of Davis's friends.
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