Evaluation under seal for woman accused of killing infant daughter
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - The Belmont woman accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter has been evaluated by a court-appointed counselor, Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter said, but those reports will remain sealed under order of the court.
Autum Sky Palmer, 20, also known as Autum Stotelmyer was charged in August for the shooting death of her daughter July 31 on Buttermilk Road in Belmont. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in August. Attorneys in the case met for a hearing Monday, but Palmer did not appear for the second straight hearing.
Berhalter said she remained in an undisclosed lockdown treatment facility.
Berhalter said that a court advised counselor has evaluated Palmer and has since filed two reports. He said that the reports have been filed and are under seal by order of the court. Berhalter informed Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vavra and Palmer's attorney Belmont County Public Defender Lane Hanlon that they will both have the opportunity to review the reports.
"Judge, as you indicated, I have had a chance to review the reports. I understand the nature of the reports, and I don’t think that we can proceed further until the defendant is back here with us in court," Vavra said.
Hanlon said that she agrees with Vavra's opinion.
Berhalter then asked if Hanlon or Vavra had an idea of a timeline of when Palmer would be able to be present in the court.
Hanlon replied that she spoke with the treatment center on Friday and was unclear of a timeline.
"Then I will set this for another review two weeks from today’s date, Oct. 5, and that will be at 10 a.m.," Berhalter said. "If she’s back in custody at the Belmont County jail, she will obviously be brought here."
He added that on Oct. 5 the court will address both evaluations as well as setting a plea agreement deadline and a trial date.