A not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Justin Miller during Miller’s initial hearing in Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 Tuesday morning.
Miller, 37, who told Judge Robert O. Bowen he resides in Knox, faces a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 Felony. If convicted, the charge carries a sentence of 20 to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.
According to court documents, the parents of 10-and-a-half month old Mercedes Lain put her in the care of Justin Miller August 13. He reportedly told police that when he woke up the next day at a home in Mishawaka Lain was deceased and he later allegedly disposed of her body in the area of 1025 E. and 50 N. in Starke County. She was reported missing August 15 and Miller led police to her body late August 18, according to court documents.
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said Monday afternoon that the preliminary autopsy report found Mercedes Lain died of blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was homicide.
Miller remains in the Marshall County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
Judge Bowen found Miller to have no funds or assets to otherwise afford to hire an attorney. Alex Hoover was the appointed by the court as Miller’s defense attorney.
A pre-trial conference is set for September 8, an omnibus date is scheduled for October 28 and a status conference is December 16. The status conference will determine a jury trial setting or a plea agreement deadline date.
Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
