Prosecutors and defense attorneys have again delayed a hearing for a Lafayette teen accused of stabbing his girlfriend's mother to death while they negotiate a possible plea deal.

Bryan Grove, 18, had been scheduled to be arraigned this morning on first-degree murder charges, a hearing re-set once already. Today's hearing was moved to next Thursday to give both sides more time to weigh a plea agreement.

Grove is charged in connection with the February slaying of Lafayette resident Linda Damm, 52. The victim's family members have told the Camera he may be allowed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and avoid a life prison sentence.

Tess Damm, the victim's 16-year-old daughter, also is charged with first-degree murder and is accused of plotting with Grove to kill her mother. She pleaded not guilty last month, and her case was set for trial Feb. 18.

Police found Linda Damm's decaying body in the back of a Subaru in the garage of her Lafayette home on Feb. 28 after receiving an anonymous tip. The body had been left there for several weeks after Grove stabbed the woman to death in her bedroom, police allege.

Tess Damm told authorities that her mother was an abusive alcoholic, and her boyfriend Grove — who had moved into the home at 705 W. Brome Place — said he would take care of the problem, according to police reports.

A friend of the teens, Jared Smith, 17, pleaded guilty to a juvenile charge of accessory and is serving a two-year sentence in juvenile prison for helping move Damm's body from her bedroom to the car. He told police that the couple discussed the homicide during a late-night meal at IHOP.

Smith told investigators he and Damm then dropped Grove off at the home and drove around while the slaying took place.

Another friend, Jared Guy, 19, was sentenced to work release followed by electronic home monitoring and probation after pleading guilty to tampering for helping try to dispose of Damm's body at a dump and a cemetery.