Trumbull woman pleads innocent in death of her daughter

WARREN — The mother of a 15-month-old girl found dead Sept. 9 has pleaded innocent to felonious assault in connection with the girl’s death.

Joy D. Hodge, 28, of Transylvania Avenue Southeast, will return to Warren Municipal Court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Hodge is in Trumbull County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. If convicted of the charge, Hodge faces up to eight years in prison.

Police said the charge was filed last week based on physical evidence collected and interviews that were conducted.

Police were called to Hodge’s house and found the girl, A’Nana L. Brantley, dead in an upstairs bedroom.

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, county coroner, performed an autopsy on the girl’s body, but a cause of death is pending further tests to be complete in about six weeks.