DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A mother suspected of killing her month-old daughter in 2005 by putting her in a microwave oven was indicted Thursday on a charge of aggravated murder.
The indictment against China Arnold, 26, does not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the death of Paris Talley.
Investigators have said evidence that includes high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby were consistent with the infant being placed in a microwave oven.
Montgomery County authorities have scheduled a news conference for later Thursday to discuss the charge.
Arnold took the baby to the hospital on August 30, 2005, after finding her unconscious at home, according to defense attorney Jon Paul Rion. He said she told hospital officials she did not know what had happened to the child.
Rion has said Arnold had nothing to do with her daughter's death and was stunned when she was told a microwave might have been involved. He said she plans to plead not guilty.
Police said a microwave oven was taken as evidence. Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner's office, said the case was difficult because there is not a lot of scientific research on the effect of microwaves on humans.
Arnold was arrested on November 27. She was being held on $1 million bond in the Montgomery County Jail.
The night before the baby was taken to the hospital, Arnold and the child's father went out for a short time and left the child with a baby sitter, Rion said. The mother did not sense anything out of the ordinary until the next morning, when the child was found unconscious, Rion said.
The indictment against China Arnold, 26, does not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the death of Paris Talley.
Investigators have said evidence that includes high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby were consistent with the infant being placed in a microwave oven.
Montgomery County authorities have scheduled a news conference for later Thursday to discuss the charge.
Arnold took the baby to the hospital on August 30, 2005, after finding her unconscious at home, according to defense attorney Jon Paul Rion. He said she told hospital officials she did not know what had happened to the child.
Rion has said Arnold had nothing to do with her daughter's death and was stunned when she was told a microwave might have been involved. He said she plans to plead not guilty.
Police said a microwave oven was taken as evidence. Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner's office, said the case was difficult because there is not a lot of scientific research on the effect of microwaves on humans.
Arnold was arrested on November 27. She was being held on $1 million bond in the Montgomery County Jail.
The night before the baby was taken to the hospital, Arnold and the child's father went out for a short time and left the child with a baby sitter, Rion said. The mother did not sense anything out of the ordinary until the next morning, when the child was found unconscious, Rion said.
Source: http://www.courttv.com/news/2006/1207/microwave_ap.html