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A bond reduction is being considered in the case of a local mother charged in connection with the death of her 11-month-old daughter.
Kristina Crooks, 7280 E. Blacks Trailer Court, North Webster, was in Kosciusko Circuit Court Monday for a hearing to reduce her $100,000 bond.
Crooks faces felony charges of reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent. The charges stem from the the Jan. 24 death of her daughter, Lois Marie Ozenbaugh.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Detective Tom Brindle testified for the prosecution, telling the court he had reason to believe that Crooks would flee law enforcment.
Brindle noted that Crooks had allegedly changed her appearance by coloring her hair. The change was probably to help her escape, he said.
He testified that sources told him Crooks was allegedly trying to get money together to repair her car.
In responding to Brindle's testimony, the lawyer for the defense, Jamelyn Elis Freeman, told the court that people do color their hair and fix their cars.
Crooks knew she was in the hot seat prior to being arrested, and if she were going to flee she would have, Freeman told the court.
Crooks testified that she was having her car fixed so she could start a job, and colored her hair because it had become rust colored.
The hearing on the defense's motion for a change of venue was suspended until 10:30 a.m Thursday.
According to the motion, the defense asserts that Crooks is unable to receive a fair trial in Kosciusko County because of public outrage over the death of a child, prejudicial and speculative news reporting about the offense, and public hostility against the defendant.
The motion for a change of venue also mentions an "organized campaign specifically against the defendant." The campaign in question refers to the Dittman-backed bumper stickers demanding "Justice for Lois."
Since the prosecution is allowed 10 days to respond to a motion, Kosciusko County Ciruit Court Judge Rex Reed postponed arguments on the change of venue. A third motion, to set an alternate venue, will not be addressed until the need for a change is established, Reed said.
Reed told the parties he will issue a decision in the bond reduction in the next couple of days.
