The 16-year-old accused of murdering a 12-year-old sibling and injuring a 9-year-old was being held with no bond on Wednesday.
Jackson Borrello's first appearance was held from a hospital on Wednesday, with no indication why he was there.
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WRAL has learned that the stabbing victim was Clara Borrello, a student at Fuquay-Varina Middle School. Court records showed she's a sibling of Jackson. Law enforcement agencies have not confirmed the relationships.
On Tuesday, Fuquay-Varina Middle School sent a statement about the death of Clara Borrello.
"It is with great sadness that I write this message to let you know that one of our students, Clara Borrello, died on February 23, 2026. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends."
A motive for the crime is still unknown, however, Borrello's background contains some potentially dark themes.
Neighbors said they'd hear loud drumming coming from the Borrello home. Borrello was in a band called "Devoured Carcass."
With the accusations against Borrello, it's a band that's under the microscope now as it's marketed by morbidity.
A band member who messaged WRAL News said Borrello played drums in the group.
Band members said they were stunned to hear the allegations. They declined an interview with WRAL, but posted a related message on their YouTube page, noting "DC is not affiliated with any recent tragedies or incidents."
Borrello posted that the band was looking for a bass player in December 2025. The group defines itself as death metal. Songs in the band's catalog include "Dead Premature," "Severed Tendons" and "Failed Autopsy."
Fuquay-Varina psychologist Dr. Erik Newman explained that an interest isn’t always an influence.
"We know that exposure to those types of media can sort of activate that imagination to the point of giving some ideas ... but the flip side of that is that most, the vast majority of kids who are exposed to those things don't bring it to that level," Newman said.
Newman said violent, dark interests can trigger thoughts in parents like, "What is my child doing? Is my child going down a rabbit hole? Is my child locking themselves in their room with their computer for hours on end and not wanting to leave the house, kind of thing?"
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Borello was unfit to be transported to the courthouse for his first court appearance.
"Right now, we're not in [a] position to talk about the facts of the case," Freeman said when asked about potential red flags in Borrello's personal life.
There were limited details from Wednesday's hearing as it was not shared publicly.
