Westminster : Ernst to Stand Trial Feb. 9 in Twins’ Deaths
A 25-year-old mother, accused of involuntary manslaughter in the July deaths of her 3-month-old twins, was ordered Monday to stand trial on Feb. 9.
Superior Court Judge Luis A. Cardenas set the trial date Monday in his Westminster courtroom as Beverly Jean Ernst formally entered a not guilty plea to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of felony child endangerment.
Two weeks ago, a Municipal Court judge determined there was sufficient evidence to order Ernst bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing.
Evidence at her preliminary hearing showed that she and a boyfriend, Scott Morrow, slept for five hours in a Garden Grove shop where he lived, from 7 a.m. until past noon on July 20, while her son and daughter were left alone in her car. The twins, Adam and Ashley, died of heat stroke.
Ernst’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Dennis P. O’Connell, claims that Morrow promised to watch the children while she slept but ended up falling asleep himself.
Judge Cardenas on Monday allowed Ernst to remain free on her own recognizance.
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