Candice and Torres Boles briefly were in court Monday morning, where they waived their rights to a formal arraignment and entered pleas of not guilty.
The Boles, indicted in the death of their 3-year-old daughter, Andraia, were brought into the courtroom one at a time to stand before Liberty Superior Court Judge Charles P. Rose.
Candice Boles is accused of one count each of cruelty to children and being a party to murder. Her husband, Torres Boles, faces one count of felony murder and one count of cruelty to children.
The case focuses heavily on the final days of Andraia Boles’ life. In previous court proceedings, Hinesville Police Department Detective Doug Snider provided testimony indicating the couple would lock up the toddler in the bathroom for hours throughout the day. This reportedly went on for approximately six months.
On Feb. 26, the girl apparently clogged the toilet, which caused flooding. As punishment, Torres Boles allegedly put his daughter in the bathtub, mopped up the wet floor with a towel and wrung the towel out in the tub where she stood. According to previous testimony, Boles claimed the girl slipped several times and hit her head against the tub. Boles denied hitting the toddler, but told Snider that when she tried to climb out of the tub, he knocked her hands down, causing her to hit the tub again. The incident lasted several hours, Snider testified. The child then was left in the tub in her wet pajamas to sleep.
Candice Boles found the young girl unresponsive the next morning. Prosecutors allege she knew what happened to her daughter and did nothing to stop it.
Snider also testified the toddler showed signs of previous physical abuse.
The case now moves forward to be tried in front of a jury at a later date.
Public Defender John Ely is representing the couple, and he requested the court require Torres Boles to undergo a mental evaluation before the trial.
Rose granted the request.