No Bond Set in Murder Case Involving Infant Victim

WHEELING - A 20-year-old Belmont County woman made her initial court appearance on Monday after being charged last week with the murder of a young child in a felony criminal case officials said involved a firearm.

Autumn Sky Stotelmyer Palmer appeared before Belmont County Western Division Court Judge Eric Costine on Monday via closed circuit video from the Belmont County Jail for arraignment.

Palmer was arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated murder as a result of a death investigation that day headed by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office at an address on Butter Milk Road in Belmont outside of Morristown.

According to the court, the child had a first birthday on July 28, just three days before the incident.

"The charge is that on the 31st of July, 2026, you did purposefully cause the death of a child," Costine said during Monday’s arraignment. "Also, a specification that Autumn Sky Stotelmyer Palmer had a firearm on her or under her control while committing the offense, and displayed the firearm, brandished the firearm, indicated that she possessed the firearm or used it to facilitate that offense."

According to the sheriff’s office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation also arrived on the scene Friday to assist local officials with the investigation. Last week, Sheriff James Zusack also offered his appreciation to the Richland Township Police Department for its assistance in the case.

Costine explained that the division court could not take a plea in this case. However, a preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled to determine if charges against Palmer should continue and be forwarded to common pleas court or if they should be dismissed. The preliminary hearing was scheduled to take place at 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 11 in Belmont County Western Division Court.

However, the prosecutor’s office indicated that there was a chance this case could end up in Belmont County Common Pleas Court before then.

"It’s a very tragic situation," said Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vavra, who along with Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan appeared in person in Western Division Court for the hearing Monday. "We are looking at it from a variety of different angles. We intend to present it to the Belmont County grand jury as soon as possible.

"It is our intention to present it this Wednesday."

If the grand jury this week hands down an indictment against Palmer, the case will be transferred to the common pleas docket for further proceedings, and the division court hearings will no longer need to take place, officials noted.

Palmer told the court on Monday that she has not been employed over the past year, and she requested that a public defender be appointed to represent her. The judge agreed to appoint a public defender and ordered that Palmer complete a financial affidavit while in jail, where she is expected to remain at least until her next court appearance.

"This is a serious incident involving the death of a child - the most serious offense we have in the state of Ohio," Vavra said. "In addition to that, there are also some concerns regarding self harm for the defendant, so we wanted to make sure that steps were taken to secure her well-being as well as the citizens of Belmont County."

Costine ordered that no bond be set in the case in light of the prosecution’s concerns that Palmer may be a risk to her own safety. The judge ordered that an evaluation of Palmer be completed by Coleman Counseling Services.

"We can revisit the issue of bond after professionals have seen you in regard to this issue," Costine said.

If convicted on the charge of aggravated murder, Palmer could face sentences that range from 20 years to life up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"In addition to that, the specification - being a gun specification, if convicted of that would carry an additional mandatory three-year gun specification," the judge noted.

Vavra noted that this was a "serious and violent offense," and that the prosecution believed that a significant bond in this case was appropriate.

"I can confirm that this did involve a firearm," Vavra said.

Officials explained that when the sheriff’s office first released information Friday about the incident, the defendant’s name was listed as Autumn Stotelmyer. However she was booked into the Belmont County Jail under the name Autumn Sky Palmer.

"The defendant within the last couple of years got married and then divorced - so her maiden name is Palmer and her married name was Stotelmyer," Vavra explained. "I believe technically her legal name right now is Palmer. When she was divorced, she was restored to her last name - her maiden name of Palmer."