YAKIMA, Wash. – Kyleah Tolle, a 20-year-old mother, appeared in court on Wednesday morning at the Yakima County Department of Corrections. She pleaded not guilty to all charges, including first-degree manslaughter.
Tolle’s arraignment occurred 15 days after her arrest at a campground. Police had found her 7-month-old baby dead and her malnourished 2-year-old toddler inside the family’s home during a welfare check.
During the court session, Tolle’s court-appointed attorney, Dale Becker, waived the formal readings of the charges as she entered her plea. Tolle is facing five felony charges related to the case, including first-degree manslaughter, two counts of family abandonment, and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.
She is being held on a $20,000 bail. The judge also issued a no-contact order between Tolle and her surviving 2-year-old child.
Tolle’s next court appearance is set for April 17 in Yakima for a pretrial omnibus hearing. This hearing will determine the evidence and testimony for her upcoming trial.
