Bond set at $1 million for woman charged with first degree murder of child

By: WILLIAM NORTHCUTT

Staff Reporter

A 20-year-old woman from Hayti, Missouri made an appearance in Municipal Court at the jail in the case of the 2023 death of a 14-month-old child. Charged with first degree murder, Karmella Robinson appeared before City Court Judge Dean Dedmon. State Prosecutor Laura Clements told Dedmon that the state plans to move forward with the case against Robinson.

Dedmon asked Robinson a series of questions in order to ascertain her financial ability to retain counsel. Upon Dedmon’s questions, she replied that she was 20, worked two part-time jobs, the salaries from which qualified her for a court appointed attorney. Dedmon assigned her case to Public Defender Jeremy Armstrong.

Dedmon asked Robinson whether she has had a felony charge during the last two years, is out on bond for a crime, or has a failure to appear charge anywhere. The defendant answered, “No sir.” However, Clements noted that Robinson was wanted on charges for a theft in Kennett, Missouri, and she added that the Kennett court expressed that they would come to transport her there to answer charges. Robinson said that the charge stems from an incident when she was 15, a juvenile and she did not know of an f.t.a. charge.

Dedmon set bond at $1M. He also set the next appearance for August 6.