Ohio mom charged in tot’s starvation death pleads not guilty

CINCINNATI (AP) — The mother of a 2-year-old girl who weighed 13 pounds when she died of starvation and blunt-force injury has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Court officials say Andrea Bradley, 28, pleaded not guilty today in Hamilton County to aggravated murder, murder and child endangerment charges in Glenara Bates’ March 29 death. Her attorney said the defense is just beginning its investigation into the case.

Bradley was ordered jailed without bail. She is pregnant with her eighth child. Prosecutor Joe Deters says Glenara had been badly beaten and had bruises, belt marks and bite marks, among other injuries.

The child’s father earlier pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average 2-year-old girl weighs twice what Glenara did.