GUILTY OH - Ashley Zhao, 5, Jackson Township, 10 Jan 2017

[Owutatangledweb]

The father's case is closed, but the mother's is still open. Did Liang Zhao reach a plea agreement? He was charged with murder. Will he still be tried on the other charges (e.g., endangering children, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and gross abuse of a corpse) or were those charges dropped as part of the plea agreement?

https://www.starkcountycjis.org/sta...ass_case_number=2017CR0115B&pass_case_type=CR

https://www.starkcountycjis.org/sta...ass_case_number=2017CR0115A&pass_case_type=CR

makes no sense why it would say that without sometthing entered on the docket

 

[JanetElaine]

For some reason he has two entries on the Online Case Docket. The one shows up as closed, the other as open, but that one doesn't show any charges.

I wouldn't read too much into the dockets by the way, they are not always correct or complete. Unfortunately I know from experience (in Ohio, although not Stark). I do think it's weird but there is most likely a simple explanation.

 

[Niner]

from March 10th hearing:

Ashley Zhao's murder remains a mystery 2 months after body found



http://www.cleveland19.com/story/34...r-remains-a-mystery-2-months-after-body-found

What actually happened to Ashley remains a mystery. Where was she killed and how was she concealed inside the family's restaurant? Where was Zhao's body found and what had the parents allegedly done to her?
Cleveland 19’s investigative team went looking for answers the day after her body was found, specifically requesting the preliminary autopsy report from the Stark County Coroner’s Office. The public records are to be made available to journalists, per Ohio Revised Code, for inspection upon request. The Stark County Coroner’s Office denied having a preliminary autopsy report and stated that even if they did, it would not be released to the media because it was part of a homicide investigation.
Cleveland 19 called upon the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office to help with the release the public record and was told by a prosecutor “I want to try the case in the county I sleep” releasing such records to the media for public consumption would make it “hard to seat a jury.”
[....]
Mingming Chen and Liang Zhao will be arraigned on charges on Wednesday, March 15 at 2 p.m. in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas.

So next court date - this Wednesday! 3/15 see you then.

 

[Spellbound]

thanks, Niner. I hope this keeps moving along and a trial comes soon. Although I know that usually is not the case.

 

[ambi]

I know the exact cause of death is still a mystery, but I was thinking maybe after being hit so many times in the head/face, she probably suffered a bad concussion which caused the vomiting and probably knocked her out. Is it possible while unconscious, she choked on her own bile/vomit? I imagine after hitting her, her mother probably just left her and her dad found her however much time later.

MOO [emoji202]


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[dyannaON]

Courtchatter has posted the YouTube of today's court appearances.

https://youtu.be/LK34clvPojE


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[byo]

Parents accused of death of 5-year-old Jackson Township girl plead not guilty
Posted 1:39 pm, March 15, 2017, by fox8webcentral, Updated at 03:02PM, March 15, 2017

CANTON, Ohio -- The parents accused in the murder of their little girl appeared in Stark County Common Pleas Court in Canton Wednesday afternoon.

Mingming Chen and Liang J Zhao entered pleas of not guilty during the arraignment. They were indicted last week on several charges including murder and corpse abuse.

During the proceedings Wednesday, the judge addressed interpretation services for Chen, who is not a citizen of the United States.

Chen and Zhao waived their rights to a speedy trial. A pretrial hearing in the case is set for April 20.

The indictment accuses the couple of evidence-tampering, obstructing justice and child endangering.

(. . . )

 

[dyannaON]

The trial will be sooo long for Chen because of the language barrier. I hope Ashley's sister is adjusting well and is being loved on endlessly.


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[Indy Anna]

The trial will be sooo long for Chen because of the language barrier. I hope Ashley's sister is adjusting well and is being loved on endlessly.


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When Chen's lawyer and interpreter were explaining the charging document to her, trying to get her to sign it, she just sat there with a blank look on her face. I was afraid she was pretending not to understand, and that she might try to disrupt the process by claiming not to understand. IMO, Chen is a manipulator and I hope she doesn't succeed at delaying justice.

The interpreter, Tasha, is very good and was diligent to ask the judge to repeat when necessary.

 

[JanetElaine]

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/35...or-mom-accused-of-killing-5-year-old-daughter

"[FONT=&quot]A Stark County woman accused of killing her daughter will undergo a psychological evaluation to see if she is fit to stand trial, according to court records."

"[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Chen and Zhao remain jailed on $5 million bond. Both will go on trial Sept. 11. They face life in prison if convicted."[/FONT]

 

[Spellbound]

I've thought about little Ashley a lot recently. thanks for the update.

 

[rosie_lee]

I've thought about little Ashley a lot recently. thanks for the update.

I have thought of Ashley a great deal also. On Saturday, I was up at the plaza where the restaurant use to be and I said a prayer. I cannot imagine what her last moments must have been like.
#JusticeForAshley

 

[Spellbound]

I have thought of Ashley a great deal also. On Saturday, I was up at the plaza where the restaurant use to be and I said a prayer. I cannot imagine what her last moments must have been like.
#JusticeForAshley

Oh, thank you for doing that Rosie_lee ! :heartluv:
I do wonder how her sister is doing these days. Who has her now, is she happy, etc....

 

[JanetElaine]

I have thought of Ashley a great deal also. On Saturday, I was up at the plaza where the restaurant use to be and I said a prayer. I cannot imagine what her last moments must have been like.
#JusticeForAshley

I found this particular crime especially heinous in that the parents were so actively acting like they were distraught, all the while the dead body of their little daughter was stuffed hidden in their restaurant maybe even mere feet away. In my opinion it takes a special kind of coldness or heartlessness to attempt such a thing.

Just out of curiosity, was the restaurant just closed or has the building been cleared out?

 

[Spellbound]

Psychiatric evaluation requested for mother

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170...luate-mingming-chen-mom-of-slain-jackson-girl

.... Chen’s trial is set for Oct. 16. Zhao’s trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 11.

A psychiatric evaluation has not been requested for Zhao, ...

If convicted of all charges, both defendants face roughly 30 years to life in prison before they would be eligible for parole. Under state law and based on evidence in the case, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero has said the death penalty does not apply.

The indictment also says that Chen and Zhao treated a human corpse “in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.”

Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge Chryssa Hartnett recently granted the request for a psychiatric evaluation regarding Chen’s sanity and competency to stand trial, according to court records. Chen’s trial is set for Oct. 16. Zhao’s trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 11. The couple was indicted in early March.

The 6-year-old sister of Ashley Zhao remains in foster care and in the temporary custody of Stark County Job and Family Services, according to Jerry Coleman, assistant deputy director of legal services for the agency.
Relatives of the girl have expressed an interest in gaining custody, Coleman said. The agency is evaluating that option. The process is expected to take months and involves extensive background checks as well as inspecting the conditions of the prospective homes, Coleman said. The relatives live in New York state.

 

[cvaldez1975]

what does that mean, treating a corpse in a way that outrages sensibilities?

 

[JanetElaine]

what does that mean, treating a corpse in a way that outrages sensibilities?

Basically abuse of a corpse. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2927.01

Not sure I even want to know details.

 

[Niner]

:bump: for

Monday, Sept. 11th:
*Trial begins - OH - Ashley Zhao (5) - MingMing Chen (29) ("mom" on trial for murder & felonious assault) (Liang J. Zhao (34), Dad on trial for complicity & complicity to felonious assault on 10/26)

:judge:

 

[JanetElaine]

http://www.cleveland19.com/story/36...ers-death-will-testify-against-mom-liang-zhao

Dad takes a plea deal and will testify against mom. He will be sentenced to 12 years after the trial against his wife ends. [FONT=&quot]He pleaded guilty to endangering children, tampering with evidence, obstructing justice and gross abuse of a corpse.[/FONT]

 

[atm9533]

wow, so after all this time we do not really know what happened to this poor little girl.