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Guardian pleads not guilty in 12-year-old girl's death

Posted February 19, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana woman has pleaded not guilty to charges after a prosecutor said evidence indicates a 12-year-old girl wasn't fatally injured by being run over by a lawnmower as the woman had claimed.

The (Anderson) Herald Bulletin (http://bit.ly/1WvF27A ) reports 45-year-old Denell Roberts of Anderson pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and aggravated battery. Roberts was the girl's guardian.

According to an affidavit, Roberts said she ran over the girl Oct. 27 while pulling out bushes. She called paramedics the next day when the girl collapsed. The girl died three weeks later at an Indianapolis hospital.

Prosecutor Rodney Cummings has said an autopsy found signs of prior physical abuse and ruled the girl died from head injuries.

Defense attorney Bryan Williams said Wednesday that he and Roberts were blindsided by the charges.

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Information from: The Herald Bulletin, http://www.theheraldbulletin.com

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