Tuesday, September 11, 2012

A Butler County judge has lowered the bond amount for a man accused of killing an 18-month-old girl due to child abuse. County Attorney Darrin Devinney tells KAKE News Edwards hastily filed a motion on Friday after the death of his stepfather.

Devinney says Edward's stepfather passed away Friday and he requested to be released from jail in order to attend the funeral.

Judge David Ricke said the grounds were not sufficient to release Edwards, but that he would lower his bond to $50,000.

"I opposed the bond reduction," Devinney said, "but the judge felt that it was the right thing to do."

Last month, Judge Ricke also lowered the bond for Edward's co-defendant, Alyssa Haag, to $50,000. She bonded out of jail the next day. However, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Edwards was still in custody at the Butler County Jail.

Eighteen-month-old Jayla Haag died in March of severe trauma. The prosecutor alleges the toddler had suffered long-term abuse at the hands of both Edwards and Haag.