He stand in that courtroom with tears streaming down his face, trembling, sobbing, begging the victim's family for forgiveness. I feel so sorry to take away. >> He pleaded that he never meant for anything to happen. He begged anyone listening to believe he was just a confused kid who made a terrible mistake for a heartbeat. His act almost worked. The emotions were raw, the crying convincing. But the court already had the other version of the story, the one that didn't match the tears, the one told by his friend who he called to help him hide the evidence, who later admitted what he did. >> And I don't understand. He just he could have left her in the basement and then made it look like she fell, but instead he took her little body three streets away and put her in a garbage can. John Freeman was a 16-year-old from Niagara Falls. He wasn't known for violence, didn't have a criminal history, and wasn't seen as a threat. But behind closed doors, there were troubling signs, emotional struggles, behavior issues, and a growing sense of frustration that his family believed he would eventually grow out of. No one imagined what he was capable of. In August 2012, 5-year-old Isabella Tenant was staying overnight at her great grandmother's home. During the early morning hours, Freeman, who was a family acquaintance, went into the basement with Isabella. Something happened down there that changed everything. He put his hands on the child's neck. Isabella never came back upstairs. Freeman panicked, but instead of calling for help, he contacted his 18-year-old friend, Tyler Best, begging him to help hide what happened. Best helped dispose of the body, but eventually walked into a police station and told officers the truth. He led them to a nearby garbage bin where Isabella's body had been wrapped and placed inside a bag. That confession immediately led police to John Freeman. Police arrested both teenagers soon after. Niagara Falls police are charging two teens tonight in connection with the murder of 5-year-old Isabella Tennant. >> After a 4-hour search, 18-year-old Tyler Best came to police and >> he was able to lead us to the location of the victim. She was in a trash can underneath some bags of trash in a garbage bag. >> Detectives questioned Freeman and his story didn't match the evidence. He struggled to explain what happened, gave conflicting statements, and showed moments of anger mixed with sudden crying episodes. To investigators, the pattern was clear. He wasn't processing guilt. He was trying to avoid consequences. Authorities later said Freeman admitted to police that he had placed his hands on Isabella's neck because she wouldn't stop crying. He could not explain why he had acted as he did. That confession would become a central fact in the case. Police charged him for the crime and charged best with tampering with evidence. >> When we were looking for her, we went straight to his house because we knew he was there on the computer and he said, "Oh, I left and she was coloring and didn't even ask to help us look for her." When we were looking for her, we went straight to his house because we knew he was there on the computer and he said, "Oh, I left and she was coloring and didn't even ask to help us look for her." And I don't understand. changes. He could have left her in the basement and then made it look like she fell, but instead he took her little body three streets away and put her in a garbage can. Like, who does that? >> At trial and in hearing rooms, Freeman's demeanor changed between moments, sometimes composed, sometimes emotionally overwhelmed. The moment that will stay with many viewers was when Freeman confronting Isabella's family. He turned to them and cried. "I didn't mean to do it," he said. I'm sorry. >> I feel so sorry to all that. Nothing can take away from that. I got to wake up every day. So, just ask. I'm so sorry. >> His voice broke. He looked like a child pleading for mercy. The victim's relatives stood as a portrait of grief, stunned, broken, and angry. Tenant's uncle wrote a prepared statement in court for Bella's dad, Mike. >> I will be in pain for the rest of my life. I didn't get to see Isabella start kindergarten, first grade, high school, teach her how to drive, go to a prom [snorts] or get married and have children. >> Some refused to meet his eyes. Others demanded answers he couldn't give. But Freeman's earlier words to police and his admission didn't align with the narrative of an accidental tragedy. Investigators relied on his confession, physical evidence, and best statements to build the state's case. The courtroom tears read differently next to what Freeman had already told officers. In July 2013, Freeman accepted responsibility in court and entered a plea to serious charges, including causing Isabella's death and interfering with the investigation. On September 5th, 2013, Niagara County Court sentenced him to 22 years to life in prison. Tyler Best, who accepted a plea for his role in disposing of the body, received a much shorter sentence under a plea deal. The incident deeply affected the entire community. Thousands attended memorials and vigils for Isabella. >> Bella will always live in our hearts. Um and she did not >> she not pass away in vain. >> A candlelight vigil was held to remember Bella. Something people in attendance do every single day. >> There's not a day that goes by that my kids and I don't speak about her or talk about her. >> Those in attendance remembered Bella's infectious personality. Isabella touched everybody in the family. Um, she just lit up the room. >> Public reaction mixed grief with anger. Many in the neighborhood demanded strict accountability while others debated how to handle violent acts committed by teenagers. >> Freeman came by, helped the grandmother out with chores like mowing the lawn and things like that. And he would hang out, you know, kind of like a safe haven. You just, you never know some people. He's been around for at least seven years and he's known her since she was a baby. >> Poor child has to learn nothing about life. She's just she's just a baby. >> Just held hands with the kids and told them. He said, "Say a prayer. Take her to heaven. Tell Jesus to let her in and send that boy to hell." >> In the months and years that followed, Isabella's death prompted local conversations about supervision, youth support, and mental health outreach. painful but necessary debates about how to keep children safe. Isabella's story forces hard questions. A 16-year-old who had never been in trouble suddenly stands convicted of the worst possible crime. He cried in court asking for forgiveness, but his own words to police helped seal his fate. Families want justice. Others wonder how youth violence can be prevented before it happens. So, here's the question I want you to answer. Do teenagers who commit the most horrific crimes deserve the same lifelong punishments as adults? Or should age and potential for rehabilitation change the outcome? Drop your answer below and explain why. If you want more courtroom breakdowns like this, subscribe to Bars and Justice and hit the bell. We bring you the facts, the courtroom moments, and the questions that keep communities talking. Click the next video on your screen and I'll see you there. Thanks for watching. Two weeks before 5-year-old Bella Tenant was killed, she recorded this message for her mother, Crystal Walker. >> My mom is so beautiful. Mommy, if you're hearing this, you're beautiful. >> You can hear little Bella's voice telling her mother that she is beautiful and that if she was alive, she would want to be like her mom. >> If I want to be alive, I would be you because your home is in my heart. Crystal says it was almost like Bella knew and left her this message to let her mom know she will always be by her side. >> My hair stood up on my arms and I got chills and I just started crying and I ran outside and I played it to my mom and she started crying. She's a crystal. She put that there for you.