Sixteen-year-old Alec D. Kreider spent his first full day in Lancaster County Prison Sunday, after he was charged Saturday with killing three members of a Manheim Township family.

Kreider, who just finished his sophomore year at Manheim Township High School, is accused of stabbing to death his one-time friend, 16-year-old Kevin Haines, and Haines' parents, Tom and Lisa, on May 12.

He was charged with three counts of criminal homicide and burglary, and will be prosecuted as an adult, Lancaster County District Attorney Don Totaro said.

Many people were shaking their heads Sunday and wondering why the boy wanted to kill his classmate and how it turned into a triple homicide.

Local law-enforcement officials remained mum on Kreider's motive Sunday.

Totaro, who called the killings "premeditated and deliberate," refused to talk about the motive or even if investigators are aware of one.

"I have no comment with regard to motive," he said Sunday night.

Totaro said Alec and Kevin were friends, but would not elaborate on the boys' relationship. He declined to say whether the boys had a falling- out prior to the slayings.

Another outstanding question is how the boy carried out the triple homicide alone. Investigators have ruled out the possibility that Kreider had help in committing the crimes.

"There are no co-conspirators or accomplices," Totaro said. "This is the only individual we believe was involved in the killing of all three Haines family members."

Manheim Township police Chief Neil Harkins assured the public that the killer who had them on edge for the past five weeks has been captured.

"I want to be clear that the threat presented in this case has been removed," Harkins said Saturday night.

After Kreider allegedly killed Kevin and his parents, Totaro said, he went back to his mother's house in Cobblestone Court — about half a mile north of the Haines home.

If anyone saw the boy returning to his mother's house, they have not contacted police.

After committing the crimes, investigators said, Kreider continued to attend classes at Manheim Township High School.

Kreider's parents are divorced, and the boy spent equal time staying with his mother, Angela Kreider, and father, Timothy Scot Kreider, investigators said.

Investigators said the teenager told his father Tuesday that he committed the killings. Mr. Kreider, who lives in the Bloomingdale development of Manheim Township, informed police Thursday.

A phone call made Sunday to Mr. Kreider's home was not answered.

Totaro would not say whether Kreider's mother was home when her son returned on the morning of the slayings.

Robert Beyer, who has been speaking on behalf of the Kreiders, divulged little information Sunday about Alec's frame of mind prior to the slayings.

He said the Kreiders are "a private family" and are having a "very difficult" time dealing with the recent events.

"They are a fabulous family," he said. "A lot of people (in the community) will tell you that."

If he is convicted of first-degree murder for the slayings, Kreider faces life imprisonment. Prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty because a national law prohibits juveniles from being executed.

Kreider's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

According to a police affidavit, Alec initially intended to only kill Kevin inside the Haines 2,368-square foot home at 85 Peach Lane, he confessed to his father.

But, at some point in the moments before the slayings, investigators said, Kreider's plan changed.

Alec told his father he wanted to smother Kevin, but once he got inside the Haines home, that plan escalated into a grisly triple homicide.

The suspect told his dad he "intentionally used a knife to kill" Kevin and his parents, court documents say.

Kreider "broke in with the intent to kill," Totaro said.

Twenty-year-old Maggie Haines, who was spending her second day back home with her family since finishing her sophomore year of college, escaped the home unharmed. She rushed to a neighbor's home and police were summoned.

Investigators have not said whether Maggie was intentionally spared.

Police allege that Kreider stabbed Kevin and his father, Tom, several times in the chest. Kevin also had a stab wound on his neck, investigators said.

Lisa Haines was stabbed once in the abdomen, then bled to death in her bedroom, investigators said. Mr. Haines also was found dead in the master bedroom, while Kevin was found in a second-floor hallway.

Manheim Township Detective Allen Leed filed the charges against Kreider.

Leed has worked on many high-profile cases in Manheim Township. He was the lead prosecutor in the case of Richard Kirchner, who in June of 1991 murdered Raymond B. Bejgrowicz, the former owner of B's Bootery. Leed also filed charges against Carlos Moret for the August 2001 strangulation death of Stephanie Marie Jenkins.

Leed and Chief Harkins were unavailable for comment Sunday evening.

Email: bhambright@lnpnews.com