Florida: Teenager hosts party after 'killing parents'

A teenager in Florida has been accused of posting a Facebook invitation for a house party, killing his parents with a hammer and then hosting dozens of people while the adults' bludgeoned bodies were locked in the master bedroom.

The bodies were discovered by police early on Sunday, and 17-year-old Tyler Hadley has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Police believe his parents were struck on their heads and torsos the previous day some time after their son posted on Facebook to tell friends about the party.

Investigators believe Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley were attacked outside their master bedroom and the bodies were moved into the bedroom and the door locked.

As many as 60 people attended the party on Saturday in a community about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach, according to Port St Lucie Police spokesman Tom Nichols. They were loud enough to prompt a noise complaint and a visit by police officers. When they arrived at 1.30am on Sunday to warn about the noise, the party was breaking up, Mr Nichols said.

Then, police said, they received a tip that a killing may have taken place. They returned to the home at 4.20am, finding the bodies covered with towels, files, books and other household items, and the hammer between them.

The mother, 47, was an elementary school teacher. The father, 54, worked for Florida Power & Light. Tyler Hadley was being held at a juvenile detention centre.