Cousin sent to home in boy’s death

HOLLIDAYSBURG - Taylor D.G. Batzel of the Carlisle area was 11 years old when he was shot to death by his cousin in Altoona 16 months ago.

He was described in court Tuesday by his father, Tim, as an honor roll student, a wrestler, a boy with a heart of ''love and gold.''

''I miss him so much. I am so lost most of the time, I don't know what I am doing,'' Tim Batzel said as he described the loss of his son to Blair County Judge Elizabeth Doyle.

Doyle sentenced Taylor's 14-year-old cousin to a community-based group home, Miller House in Apollo, where he will receive treatment for, among other things, post-traumatic stress disorder, which he is suffering from because of the shooting.

''I heard you. ... I heard about the hole in your family,'' Doyle said, responding to the father and 10 other members of the Batzel family who drove to Hollidaysburg for the hearing.

The older boy was 13 years old Aug. 5, 2007, when he and Taylor, who was visiting family on Fourth Avenue, went to an upstairs room to play video games.

According to testimony, the older boy, who had taken hunter safety classes, saw a live shell out in the open and put it in a .30-30 lever action rifle.

He ejected it, then put it back in and pointed the rifle at Taylor, despite the young boy's protests.

He pulled the trigger, according to testimony in Doyle's courtroom, because he wanted to hear the sound of the weapon firing.

The ensuing blast severed Taylor's spine and killed him.

In October, the older boy entered a no-contest plea in juvenile court to involuntary manslaughter and was sent to Adelphoi Village in Latrobe for an evaluation.

David Ozias of Adelphoi recommended Tuesday that the teen be placed in the community-based facility for treatment of PTSD, resolution of family issues and counseling for his decision-making skills, anger management and social skills.

Psychologist Lynn Kagarise, under questioning from the teen's attorney, Michael Emerick, testified that there is nothing to be gained by placing the teen in a group home.

Kagarise said treatment in the community would be best way to go.

He said the boy doesn't need anger management, describing him as a ''socially shy, reserved child."

''Justice is holding someone accountable and doing damage control,'' Doyle said, adding that the boy would not be returned to his Altoona home until Blair County Children and Youth Services agrees it is appropriate. ''That is what the court will do today.''

Taylor's relatives expressed in tears their loss to the judge.

''I would do anything to be able to hold [Taylor] and kiss him again,'' said his grandmother, Patricia Haigin of Carlisle.

''We used to celebrate holidays as a family. Now all we have is an empty seat,'' said his aunt Melissa Butterbaugh.

Taylor's grandfather, Brian Haigin, spoke for Taylor's older brother.

''I just want justice. ... No matter how much we bickered, we will always be brothers,'' he said.