Ohio woman accused of shooting daughter enters insanity plea
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – A Belmont woman accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter last week pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Friday.
Autum Sky Palmer, 20, also known as Autum Stotelmyer pleaded Friday morning in Belmont County Common Pleas Court where she is charged in the shooting death of her daughter on July 31 on Buttermilk Road in Belmont.
Palmer is facing one count of purposely causing the death of someone under the age of 13, with a firearms specification. Judge Chris Berhalter told Palmer that, if convicted, she could face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During the hearing, Palmer's attorney, Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller, sought a mental health evaluation for Palmer.
Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vavra asked Berhalter that bail either be denied or that a substantial bond be set.
“This is one of the most serious offenses in the state of Ohio. It involves allegations of violent crime," Vavra said. "There's also concern regarding the investigation of potential thoughts or statements about self-harm on behalf of the defendant. So there is concern for her safety as well.”
It is typical of the courts to deny bail when a defendant enters a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, he said.
Berhalter accepted the plea and denied bond until at least after the mental health evaluation. The judge also said he would consider a motion for bail following the evaluation.
Berhalter then set a hearing at 10 a.m. Sept. 8, but didn’t set a trial date.
“I'm hesitant to set a trial date with the understanding that we don't know when those evaluations will be, but by setting that review, we'll keep this on the docket and keep this case moving forward,” Berhalter said. “Now, I will entertain an argument if the state or the defendant wants the trial date set today.”
Both Miller and Vavra declined.
Palmer was remanded to the Belmont County jail pending bond.