Erica J. Brennan of Ludowici was indicted by the Long County grand jury Tuesday for the murder of her stepdaughter, 8-year-old Sarah H. Harris.
Brennan was charged with causing the death of the child by scalding her in a tub of hot water July 6.
The child died July 15 at the Augusta Burn Center, reportedly the result of injuries sustained from the alleged incident.
Brennan has been incarcerated every since her arrest Aug.2.
Bond denied again
Later on Tuesday, Brennan appeared with her attorney, John Pirkle, in the Long County Courthouse.
Standing before Atlantic Judicial Circuit Chief Judge David L. Cavender, Pirkle requested a bond be set for Brennan.
After making the request, the attorney for the state said because of the seriousness of the crime, and the “brutal and inhumane” manner of the child’s death, the state felt Brennan did not “deserve to be walking around.”
He also said despite her presumed innocence, the judged needed to know the state would be pursuing the death penalty in the case.
Pirkle responded by stating the defendant had no history of violence or any previous history of abuse, hence Brennan was “no danger to the public.”
Pirkle also said there was no reason to believe the defendant would not return to the court at the appointed time or “believe she would go anywhere.”
The attorney for the state, Mark Hendrix, responded by saying there was testimony to conclude Brennan did have a history of abuse, and the abuse may have even included her own 7-year-old son.
After hearing both sides, Cavender denied bond.
This was the third time bond had been denied to Brennan. Superior State Court Judge Robert Russell denied bond requests twice in August.
Brennan was indicted on three counts, malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Brennan was charged with causing the death of the child by scalding her in a tub of hot water July 6.
The child died July 15 at the Augusta Burn Center, reportedly the result of injuries sustained from the alleged incident.
Brennan has been incarcerated every since her arrest Aug.2.
Bond denied again
Later on Tuesday, Brennan appeared with her attorney, John Pirkle, in the Long County Courthouse.
Standing before Atlantic Judicial Circuit Chief Judge David L. Cavender, Pirkle requested a bond be set for Brennan.
After making the request, the attorney for the state said because of the seriousness of the crime, and the “brutal and inhumane” manner of the child’s death, the state felt Brennan did not “deserve to be walking around.”
He also said despite her presumed innocence, the judged needed to know the state would be pursuing the death penalty in the case.
Pirkle responded by stating the defendant had no history of violence or any previous history of abuse, hence Brennan was “no danger to the public.”
Pirkle also said there was no reason to believe the defendant would not return to the court at the appointed time or “believe she would go anywhere.”
The attorney for the state, Mark Hendrix, responded by saying there was testimony to conclude Brennan did have a history of abuse, and the abuse may have even included her own 7-year-old son.
After hearing both sides, Cavender denied bond.
This was the third time bond had been denied to Brennan. Superior State Court Judge Robert Russell denied bond requests twice in August.
Brennan was indicted on three counts, malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.