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A North Webster woman goes on trial Monday morning in connection with the January 1997 death of her daughter.
Kristina Crooks, 20, is charged with reckless homicide of her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Marie Ozenbaugh. Crooks also faces charges of neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and eventually death as well as a charge that she neglected her daughter before Lois' death.
Lois died Jan. 24, 1997, from vomiting and choking on her stomach's contents. Autopsy and toxicology reports found cigarettes in the infant's stomach and Valium in her blood.
Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe will be heading the prosecution in the case and will be assisted by Det. Sgt. Thomas Brindle of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. Brindle was the lead investigator in the case.
Judge Rex Reed will hear the case in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
The state has called 70 citizens for jury duty for the trial, double the usual number of people called. The defense has expressed concern that potential jurors have been tainted by the extensive media coverage of the Crooks incident. If the defense and prosecution cannot seat 12 jurors from the panel, the court will be forced to call a mistrial and reset the trial date.
However, Kolbe said he cannot foresee any problems with finding 12 impartial jurors. "I think we'll find 12 people willing to hear the facts and decide what is the truth," Kolbe said.
The defense moved for a change of venue for the trial, but was denied.
