KENNEWICK -- Accused of murder as a teen, *Donald Schalchlin will go to court charged as an adult.

Donald was 15 when his sister's throat was cut and his mother was stabbed nearly 100 times.

His accused partner in crime, Joshua Tucker, has already been convicted of double murder in adult court.

Defense attorneys have been working to keep his case in juvenile court.

But after days of hearings and testimonies, Donald will now face charges in superior court as well.

"This is a difficult decision because of the great significance it has for Mr. Schalchlin," Hon. Judge Craig Matheson said in court.

Instead of a few years in Juvenile Detention, Donald could face 30 in prison if he's convicted of killing his mom and sister.

"I respect Judge Matheson's decision, I'm sure it was a well though-out decision" Schalchlin's attorney Norma Rodriguez said. "At this point we're going to focus on the larger aspect of the trial, which is actually the trial."

"It makes me happy that he's being charged as an adult," Paula Duranceau said, friend of Elizabeth and Lori Schalchlin.

Duranceau and her family still struggle with the murders of Elizabeth and Lori.

"It's been tough, my niece is having a particularly hard time but we're helping her through it," she said.

Duranceau's niece, Amber, was Elizabeth's best friend.

Amber was on the phone with Elizabeth the night she was murdered.

Duranceau did not want Amber to go on camera.

"I do feel it's fair because he had choices, and he made the wrong choice, and needs to pay the consequences for his actions," Duranceau said.

Court papers lay out a broken home.

Donald's emotional development was delayed by constant depression, years of neglect, and substance abuse.

The judge called this part of the report a "complex question."

That question: is Donald a victim or villain?

"The seriousness of this crime, this alleged crime, outweighed the interest of interest of Mr. Schalchlin had he remained in juvenile court," Judge Matheson said.

The judge wrote: although his maturity level and sophistication may be in favor of going to juvenile detention, it's not enough to keep him there.

The judge believed time spent in juvenile detention was not enough to protect us.

"It is a relief to think he will be off the streets for quite some time," Duranceau said.

*We had our cameras in the courtroom Mnday but there is still a court order that stops us from showing Donald's face in court.