Mom indicted in baby-microwaving case

updated 9:45 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2006

DAYTON, Ohio - A woman suspected of killing her month-old daughter by putting her in a microwave oven was indicted on a charge of aggravated murder Thursday, and the prosecutor said he would seek the death penalty.

The indictment against China Arnold, 26, does not provide details on the death of Paris Talley.

Investigators have said evidence that includes high-heat internal injuries and the absence of external burn marks on the baby were consistent with a microwave oven. The baby died on Aug. 30, 2005. Her mother was arrested last week.

"The Montgomery County coroner came to the conclusion that the injuries sustained by this baby could have only been caused by being placed into a microwave oven and having that oven turned on and (cooking) the baby to death," Montgomery Country Prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr. said at a news conference.

Heck declined to discuss a possible motive or release any other details about the case. He said Arnold would be subject to the death penalty if convicted because the victim was a child.

Defense attorney Jon Paul said Arnold had nothing to do with her child's death. He said Arnold and the child's father had left Paris with a baby sitter the night before she found the baby unconscious.

"China has the moral courage and the confidence in her God that the truth will come out in this case," Rion said. "We will seek every single way possible to communicate to our government and to the jury in this case that China is innocent of all the charges."

Arnold is being held on $1 million bond. Heck said he will ask the court to order her held without bail at a hearing Tuesday.

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