Jury seated for murder trial

BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -- A jury was chosen Wednesday for the murder trial of a foster mother accused of causing the death of a 3-year-old boy by leaving him bound in a closet.
Nine women and three men were seated, and opening statements are expected Thursday in the trial of Liz Carroll.
She and her husband, David Carroll Jr., are accused of wrapping Marcus Fiesel in blanket, binding him with packing tape and leaving him in a closet while they went out of town for a weekend family reunion. Prosecutors say the boy was dead when they returned.
Judge Robert Ringland rejected a defense effort to move Liz Carroll's trial from Clermont County because of pretrial publicity in the southwest Ohio community.
Potential jurors were questioned about their knowledge and opinions about the case and about giving a witness immunity in exchange for testimony. The prosecution's key witness is Amy Baker, a live-in companion of the Carrolls.
David Carroll Jr., 30, also is charged with murder, but will be tried separately March 19. Both have pleaded innocent and are being held on 10.1 million bond each.
They also are charged with involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, child endangerment and other counts in a case that triggered calls for reform of Ohio's foster care system.
Liz Carroll acknowledged in grand jury testimony days after the child was reported missing that he had been left in the closet, but she said she had no intention of hurting him.
The Carrolls also face trial on lesser charges of perjury and inducing panic in Hamilton County, where they told authorities Aug. 16 that Marcus wandered off or had been taken from a park during an outing. A massive search by authorities and volunteers followed.