GUILTY AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018

[Niner]

Thursday, August 19th:
*Hearing (Day 2 of 2) (@ 1:30pm ET) – AL – Violet Rice (13 mos.) (May 24, 2018; death from abuse/neglect weighed 10lbs) – Only for *Jordan Reign Nicole Rice (27) “mom” arrested (1/21/19) & charged (5/25/19) & arraigned (5/29/19) with capital murder & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. No bond on murder, child abuse bond is $100K bond.
Was previously charged with assault & aggravated child abuse. 2 other children (3 & 6) were taken to child care services.
Court info from 1/19/19 thru 6/3/21 reference post #80 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
6/23/21 Update: Hearing starting on 8/18/21 & to 8/19/21. 8/18/21 Update: No info on hearing. Hearing continues on 8/19/21.
*Robert Rice (30) “father” arrested (5/17/19), charged (5/24/19), indicted (6/10/19) & arraigned (7/24/19) with reckless manslaughter & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. $200K bond.
Court info from 7/14/19 thru 9/21/20 reference post #67 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
10/14/20 Update: Last hearing on 1/14/21. No update on court site thru 8/23/21.

 

[Niner]

I believe this is the first article I have found about this case.

Motion to dismiss filed on behalf of mother in 2018 death of 1-year-old daughter

Sept. 2, 2021
ROBERTSDALE — A motion was filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court on Monday to dismiss charges against a Robertsdale woman indicted on capital murder charges in the 2018 death of her 1-year-old daughter.

According to reports, Jordan Nicole Rice, now 31, was indicted May 28, 2019 on capital murder charges, nearly a year after being booked on aggravated child abuse charges. She pleaded not guilty to the charges the next day saying she suffered from “mental disease and defect.”
[.....]
According to the motion to dismiss, filed electronically on Monday by Fairhope attorney Michael A. Pylant, on Jan. 9, 2019, Rice was transported from the jail and admitted to USA Medical Center “due to bilateral blindness and intractable headache.”

A CT scan of her head was completed on the same day and showed a brain tumor with cerebral edema involving the frontal and temporal lobes.

On Jan. 10, 2019, a cerebral angiogram was conducted, and the meningioma was successfully embolized. Surgery was completed on Jan. 11, 2019 and she was taken back to the Baldwin County Corrections Center on Jan. 22.

According to the motion, Rice has been blind since the time of her surgery.

Four months after the surgery, Rice was indicted on capital murder charges involving a child under 14 years and remains in jail on a $75,000 bond, according to jail records.

The case is set to go to trial before Judge Scott Taylor in Baldwin County Circuit Court on Nov. 8.
[.....]
The motion also states that they were informed by the prosecution on Aug. 26 that recorded jail calls by Rice from the jail would be used as evidence in the trial.
[.....]
Teresa Heinz with the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office said once the DA’s office has an opportunity to examine the seven-page document filed on Monday, an official response would be issued.

 

[Niner]

The brain tumor defense: Did an Alabama mother mean to kill her toddler?

Sept. 20, 2021
......
In late August, Pylant filed a motion to dismiss her case, based in part on findings that Jordan Rice suffered from a severe mental defect at the time of the crime. It’s an unusual defense – but not unheard of. A handful of high-profile brain tumor cases helped create the field of neurolaw, which explores the ways brain injuries and abnormalities can affect human behavior.

Jordan Rice’s case poses a test of those legal theories in Alabama. Pylant, her attorney, said he’s not familiar with other defendants in Alabama claiming lack of criminal responsibility due to the presence of brain tumors or injuries. But in his client’s case, he said the evidence points to a profound shift in her behavior months before her daughter’s death that coincided with the growth of her tumor.
[.....]
He said the type of tumor diagnosed in Jordan Rice can grow slowly over the course of several years. Many neurological tests aren’t designed to measure behavior shifts. A patient’s memory and movement might be unaffected by a growth that causes big changes in personality, Darby said.
[.....]
Making the legal argument that a tumor caused uncontrollable criminal behavior is difficult, said Stephen J. Morse, a professor of law and psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. The most important questions have nothing to do with the size of the tumor or the severity of her physical symptoms, but whether her behavior deteriorated over time.
[.....]
In her mugshot, Jordan Rice smiled widely. That drew scorn from commenters on the internet, but also reflected how disconnected she must have been from the gravity of her situation, Gandesbery said.
[.....]
Robert Rice was working in Florida as a military contractor when his daughter died, and he maintained visits with his surviving children after Jordan’s arrest. A year after Violet’s death, prosecutors arrested Robert Rice for child abuse and reckless manslaughter. He took a plea deal in the manslaughter case and is currently incarcerated in Baldwin County.
[.....]
Jordan Rice underwent neuropsychiatric testing. Her lawyer has experts who are willing to testify about her brain tumor and mental state. Pylant’s motion to dismiss contains some findings from those exams.
[.....]
The argument that charges should be dismissed because of the brain tumor belongs at trial, according to the objection from by prosecutors.
[.....]
A hearing has been scheduled for September 23 and her trial could happen in November. The trial has already been postponed several times due to COVID.


a lot more in the article.

 

[Niner]

Setting Date: Thursday September 23, 2021
Judge SCOTT P. TAYLOR
05-CC-2019-000648.00 9:00AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE
05-CC-2019-900112.00 9:00AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE

Link: Alacourt ACCESS V2.0

 

[Niner]

Since I will be gone from 9/22 to 9/23 - I am posting this earlier. I will be back on 9/24 Friday morning to catch up with any updates.


Thursday, Sept. 23rd:
*Motions Hearing (@ am ET) – AL – Violet Rice (13 mos.) (May 24, 2018; death from abuse/neglect weighed 10lbs) – Only for *Jordan Reign Nicole Rice (27) “mom” arrested (1/21/19) & charged (5/25/19) & arraigned (5/29/19) with capital murder & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. No bond on murder, child abuse bond is $100K bond.
Was previously charged with assault & aggravated child abuse. 2 other children (3 & 6) were taken to child care services.
Trial set to begin on 11/8/21.
Court info from 1/19/19 thru 6/3/21 reference post #80 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...neglect-robertsdale-24-may-2018.381373/page-4
6/23/21 Update: Hearing starting on 8/18/21 & to 8/19/21. 8/18/21 Update: No info on hearing. Hearing continues on 8/19/21. 8/19/21 Update: A motion was filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court on Monday to dismiss charges. She pleaded not guilty to the charges the next day saying she suffered from “mental disease and defect.” According to the motion to dismiss, filed electronically on Monday by Fairhope attorney Michael A. Pylant, on Jan. 9, 2019, Rice was transported from the jail and admitted to USA Medical Center “due to bilateral blindness and intractable headache.” A CT scan of her head was completed on the same day and showed a brain tumor with cerebral edema involving the frontal and temporal lobes. On Jan. 10, 2019, a cerebral angiogram was conducted, and the meningioma was successfully embolized. Surgery was completed on Jan. 11, 2019 and she was taken back to the Baldwin County Corrections Center on Jan. 22. According to the motion, Rice has been blind since the time of her surgery. The motion also states that they were informed by the prosecution on Aug. 26 that recorded jail calls by Rice from the jail would be used as evidence in the trial. The case is set to go to trial before Judge Scott Taylor in Baldwin County Circuit Court on 11/8/21. 8/19/21 Update: Motions hearing on 9/23/21 to dismiss charges.
*Robert Rice (30) “father” arrested (5/17/19), charged (5/24/19), indicted (6/10/19) & arraigned (7/24/19) with reckless manslaughter & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. $200K bond.
Court info from 7/14/19 thru 9/21/20 reference post #67 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...neglect-robertsdale-24-may-2018.381373/page-4
10/14/20 Update: Next hearing on 1/14/21.

 

[Niner]

for Jordan:

Setting Date: Thursday October 07, 2021

Judge SCOTT P. TAYLOR
05-CC-2019-000648.00 10:00AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE
05-CC-2019-900112.00 10:00AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE

link: Alacourt ACCESS V2.0

 

[Niner]

Thursday, October 7th:
*Hearing (@ 10am ET) – AL – Violet Rice (13 mos.) (May 24, 2018; death from abuse/neglect weighed 10lbs) – Only for *Jordan Reign Nicole Rice (27) “mom” arrested (1/21/19) & charged (5/25/19) & arraigned (5/29/19) with capital murder & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. No bond on murder, child abuse bond is $100K bond.
Was previously charged with assault & aggravated child abuse. 2 other children (3 & 6) were taken to child care services.
Trial set to begin on 11/8/21.
Court info from 1/19/19 thru 6/3/21 reference post #80 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
6/23/21 Update: Hearing starting on 8/18/21 & to 8/19/21. 8/18/21 Update: No info on hearing. Hearing continues on 8/19/21. 8/19/21 Update: A motion was filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court on Monday to dismiss charges. She pleaded not guilty to the charges the next day saying she suffered from “mental disease and defect.” According to the motion to dismiss, filed electronically on Monday by Fairhope attorney Michael A. Pylant, on Jan. 9, 2019, Rice was transported from the jail and admitted to USA Medical Center “due to bilateral blindness and intractable headache.” A CT scan of her head was completed on the same day and showed a brain tumor with cerebral edema involving the frontal and temporal lobes. On Jan. 10, 2019, a cerebral angiogram was conducted, and the meningioma was successfully embolized. Surgery was completed on Jan. 11, 2019 and she was taken back to the Baldwin County Corrections Center on Jan. 22. According to the motion, Rice has been blind since the time of her surgery. The motion also states that they were informed by the prosecution on Aug. 26 that recorded jail calls by Rice from the jail would be used as evidence in the trial. The case is set to go to trial before Judge Scott Taylor in Baldwin County Circuit Court on 11/8/21. 8/19/21 Update: Motions hearing on 9/23/21 to dismiss charges.
9/23/21 Update: Next hearing on 10/7/21.
*Robert Rice (30) “father” arrested (5/17/19), charged (5/24/19), indicted (6/10/19) & arraigned (7/24/19) with reckless manslaughter & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. $200K bond.
Court info from 7/14/19 thru 9/21/20 reference post #67 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
10/14/20 Update: Next hearing on 1/14/21. No update thru 10/8/21.

 

[Niner]

Setting date: Thursday January 13, 2022 Judge Scott P. Taylor

Case Number TimeName
Judge SCOTT P. TAYLOR
05-CC-2019-000648.00 8:30AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE
05-CC-2019-900112.00 8:30AM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE

link: Alacourt ACCESS V2.0

 

[Niner]

Thursday, January 13th:
*Hearing (@ 8:30am ET) – AL – Violet Rice (13 mos.) (May 24, 2018; death from abuse/neglect weighed 10lbs) – Only for *Jordan Reign Nicole Rice (27) “mom” arrested (1/21/19) & charged (5/25/19) & arraigned (5/29/19) with capital murder & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. No bond on murder, child abuse bond is $100K bond.
Was previously charged with assault & aggravated child abuse. 2 other children (3 & 6) were taken to child care services.
Trial was set to begin on 11/8/21 cancelled.
Court info from 1/19/19 thru 8/19/21 reference post #87 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
9/23/21 Update: Next hearing on 10/7/21. 10/7/21 Update: Next hearing on 1/13/22.
*Robert Rice (30) “father” arrested (5/17/19), charged (5/24/19), indicted (6/10/19) & arraigned (7/24/19) with reckless manslaughter & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. $200K bond.
Court info from 7/14/19 thru 9/21/20 reference post #87 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
10/14/20 Update: Next hearing on 1/14/21.

 

[Niner]

Finally another court date. But nothing on Robert Rice.

Setting Date: Wednesday March 30, 2022

Judge SCOTT P. TAYLOR
05-CC-2019-000648.00 1:30PM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE

05-CC-2019-900112.00 1:30PM RICE JORDAN REIGN NICOLE

link: Alacourt ACCESS V2.0

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, March 30th:
*Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) – AL – Violet Rice (13 mos.) (May 24, 2018; death from abuse/neglect weighed 10lbs) – Only for *Jordan Reign Nicole Rice (27) “mom” arrested (1/21/19) & charged (5/25/19) & arraigned (5/29/19) with capital murder & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. No bond on murder, child abuse bond is $100K bond.
Was previously charged with assault & aggravated child abuse. 2 other children (3 & 6) were taken to child care services.
Trial was set to begin on 11/8/21 was continued, no further dates.
Court info from 1/19/19 thru 8/19/21 reference post #87 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
9/23/21 Update: Next hearing on 10/7/21. 10/7/21 Update: Next hearing on 1/13/22. 1/13/22 Update: Next hearing on 3/30/22.
*Robert Rice (30) “father” arrested (5/17/19), charged (5/24/19), indicted (6/10/19) & arraigned (7/24/19) with reckless manslaughter & aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. $200K bond.
Court info from 7/14/19 thru 9/21/20 reference post #87 here:
AL - Violet Rice, 13 months, died from abuse/neglect, Robertsdale, 24 May 2018
10/14/20 Update: Next hearing on 1/14/21. No update as of 3/30/22.

 

[Niner]

Well - it looks like these 2 have pleaded guilty & have been sentenced.

He was stationed in Florida when his child died, but Alabama put him in prison anyway

Robert Rice and his wife both pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but he got a longer sentence. Now he and his friends are trying to understand why he is still in prison when he wasn't present when his child died.

www.al.com

May 22, 2022
Robert Rice still doesn’t understand how he ended up inside Bibb Correctional Facility, a prison for men far from the panhandle beach town where he lived while serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

In 2018, his 13-month-old daughter died from neglect in south Alabama during his deployment in Florida. Police arrested his wife. Less than a year later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor while being held at the Baldwin County Jail – a baseball-sized mass that made it impossible for her to care for her children, her lawyer said.

Rice’s cascade of misfortune didn’t stop with his wife’s diagnosis. Months later and a year after the death of Violet Rice, Baldwin County authorities decided to prosecute Rice for the death of his child, arguing he ignored warning signs.
[.....]
Rice had to separate from the military and stop seeing his two surviving children to fight criminal charges. He decided in 2020 to plead guilty to manslaughter and hope the judge might shorten his four-year prison sentence.
[.....]
Rice said he remembers stumbling a bit when the judge accepted his plea deal.

“The judge essentially asked me if I felt my actions caused the death of my daughter,” he said. “And my response to the best of my recollection it was something along the lines of, ‘If by guilty, you mean that I was not there when my family needed me, then yes, I plead guilty.’”
[.....]
Both of Violet’s parents pleaded guilty of reckless manslaughter in her death. But Robert Rice received the longer sentence.

He took a deal a year before his wife in the hope that he could leave prison and eventually rebuild relationships with his family, Rice said. He faced charges of aggravated child abuse that could have led to a much longer sentence if he had been found guilty at trial.

After almost four years in jail, Jordan Rice was released on three years’ probation to a facility that will help her learn to live with vision loss caused by the tumor. Rice still has more than two-and-a-half years to serve in prison until his release on 16 additional years of probation.
[.....]
[Assistant DA]Heinz said Rice accepted the plea deal and understood the terms of his incarceration. But Rice said he believed his attorney would petition the judge to release him on probation before four years had passed.
[.....]
As part of Rice’s plea, he agreed to have no contact with his surviving children. Still, the hope that they might one day reconnect keeps him going.