BRUNSWICK COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- A woman arrested more than 15 years after she allegedly tossed her dead babies down a trash chute at a Lawrenceville college is facing additional charges. But in court today Judge Nathan Lee granted Darnesha Berry a $50K secured bond, while her lawyers prepare to defend those new charges.
The prosecution and defense reached the agreement for bond shortly after the judge called for a recess to consider when Berry would go to trial. However the two sides did not agree on everything. Berry's lawyers raised questions about different reports from several medical examiners. The first medical examiner overseeing the case 15 years ago reported Berry's newborn twins sustained blunt force trauma. But that medical examiner has since retired. The defense told the judge the new medical examiner reported there may not have been blunt force trauma. Because of the difference in reports, a third 'independent examiner' was brought in. The various findings led Berry's lawyer Arnold Henderson to tell the judge "We have to look at it (the case) in a different light. We should not be forced to go forward with a speedy trial." The judge agreed, changing the trial date from April 28th to September 29th.
CBS 6 News has learned Darnesha Berry was indicted on two charges of felony child neglect and two charges of felony murder in February. Berry was previously indicted on two first-degree murder charges last year.
Detectives allege Berry tossed the bodies of her newborn twins, a boy and a girl, down a trash chute while she was a student at Saint Paul’s College in 1998.
Police charged Berry with the twins' murder in July after DNA linked her to the cold case.
Police sources told CBS 6 that feminine hygiene products removed from a trash bag outside Berry’s western Henrico townhome helped investigators identify her as the newborns' mother.
Berry, who is a married and the mother of three children, lived in the St. Paul’s College dorm where the babies were killed, but was not considered a suspect at the time of their deaths.
Depend on WTVR.com and CBS 6 News for the latest updates on this important local story.
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