A Niles man who was just 15 years old when he killed his 94-year-old neighbor will remain in prison after an appeals court ruled Tuesday to uphold his conviction. 

Attorneys for Jacob Larosa, who is now 20, had been asking that his conviction for murdering Marie Belcastro be overturned on the grounds that a juvenile court should have heard his case. 

On Tuesday, the 11th District Court of Appeals ruled against Larosa's motion to have his conviction overturned. 

Larosa pleaded no contest and was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted rape, and theft for breaking into Belcastro's home, attempting to rape her and beating her to death with a flashlight. 

Larosa was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.