Mother of murdered New Kensington 9-year-old demands answers months after his death

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — It has been four months and there haven’t been any arrests in the murder of Azuree Charles, 9.

Charles was found dead behind a shed next to his house in New Kensington in early May.

Investigators initially said they had a person of interest and there was not any threat to the public, but no one has been charged with his death. 

“Just kind of what’s going on, answers... I just want answers. It’s not easy,” Luella Elien said.

For his mother, Luella Elien, there has not been any sort of closure.

”I’m feeling kind of left in the dark. I have reached out a couple times and I know they’re doing the best they can but I just want answers,” Elien said.

Her son, Azuree, would be turning 10 next week.

Four months after his body was found, there have not been any arrests in his death.

Elien said it is frustrating there have not been any arrests in her son’s case.

The district attorney told Channel 11 it is still an active investigation.

They are still looking into it, but had no further comment at this time. 

Elien — like many of her neighbors — just wants to know what happened to her son and who’s responsible for his death.

”I don’t want anybody to forget about him. He was a sweet little boy. He did not deserve to go in the manner that he left. Life was just taken from him too tragically,” Elien said.

As she marks her son’s 10th birthday next week without him, she wants people to remember him for who he was and how he lived.

”It’s going to be very personal, very small just to remember his life, a celebration of life. I’m trying not to remember how he went but how he lived. He was so touching to everyone,” Elien said.

Azuree’s father, Jean Charles, is still in jail on unrelated charges.

He was charged in the fall of 2021 for allegedly punching Azuree in the eye. He is expected to be back in court at the end of the month.

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