Prosecutor: Jefferson City boy died from suffocation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A woman accused of killing a 4-year-old Jefferson City boy who she was babysitting will not be released on bond.

A judge ruled Friday that Quatavia Givens will remain in jail awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Darnell Gray in October 2018.

A grand jury indictment released Friday says the boy died by suffocation.

Authorities have also said he suffered blunt force trauma before he died.

Givens is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child endangerment and abandoning a corpse.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday.