Mercedes Lain’s parents made their initial court appearance Friday. They’re charged with the Level 6 felony of neglect of a dependent after the 11-month-old’s body was found in a wooded area in Starke County Wednesday night.
Tiffany Coburn and Kenneth Lain both pleaded not guilty, according to Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman. They were appointed separate public defenders: June Bules for Coburn and Joseph Simanski for Lain, according to court documents. A pretrial conference is scheduled for September 15 in Marshall Superior Court 3, followed by a status conference on November 18.
Another suspect, Justin Miller, will make his initial appearance Tuesday morning at 9:00 in Marshall County Superior Court 1. He’s accused of the Level 1 felony of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Mercedes was reportedly in Miller’s care when he says he woke up to find her dead. He later allegedly admitted to disposing of her body to police.
