Pair Plead Not Guilty in Child’s Death
A Palmdale woman and her boyfriend, accused of fatally beating her 4-year-old daughter and abusing her 2-year-old son, pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and child endangerment charges.
After accepting the pleas, Antelope Municipal Judge Ian R.Grant ordered Michelle Hunter, 24, and Richard Leach, 25, held without bail in connection with the June 11 death of Deedra Hunter, said Court Clerk Elke Matthews.
The two were arrested after Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a 911 call at the couple’s home in the Ponderosa Vista Mobile Estates at 5200 Entrar Drive. They found the girl, who had been dead for several hours, lying on the kitchen floor.
Bruises covering the girl’s body were among the worst he had ever seen on a child, Deputy Michael Scott said at the time. Hunter’s 2-year-old son also showed signs of abuse and was placed in protective custody, deputies said.
In addition to the murder count, the pair are charged with two counts each of child endangerment and torture, Matthews said.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 20.
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