A woman from Colorado who has been charged for the murder of her daughter pleaded not guilty, leading a judge to schedule a three-week trial for May.
According to a grand jury indictment, the death of 7-year-old Olivia Gant in 2017 was initially thought to be the result of multiple diseases, but her mother, Kelly Turner, faked her medical issues and ultimately killed her.
The investigation into how Olivia died began a year after Olivia’s death, when the doctors at Children’s Hospital Colorado became suspicious when Turner brought in her older daughter because of “bone pain,” and publicly claimed that the child also suffers from cancer.
Olivia’s body was exhumed and an autopsy was performed to confirm if she had indeed died chronic intestinal failure, autism and seizure disorder, but the cause of death was inconclusive.
Turner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one for allegedly killing her daughter while she was in a position of trust, and another for allegedly killing her daughter after deliberation.
She also faces charges of child abuse, theft, charitable fraud, attempted influence of a public servant and forgery charges.
The indictment alleges that Turner defrauded the Medicaid system of more than $538,000, two foundations that provide memorable experiences to terminally ill children, and hundreds of people who donated to her online fundraising page.
The allegations against Turner go further as she ripped off both a funeral home and a cemetery that handled her daughter’s arrangements.
This is not the first time Turner had a brush with the law, as criminal records from Texas show she was arrested in 1998 for aggravated sexual assault on a child.
She also had convictions for impersonation of an emergency medical technician, forgery and probation violation.
Turner’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 3, 2021, and is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond.