WESTON, W.Va. — A Lewis County mother has been indicted on a number of charges in her daughter’s death.
Lena Lunsford was arrested in Pinellas County, Florida on November 3, 2016.
She was charged with one count of murder of a child by parent, guardian or custodian or other person by refusal or failure to necessities, one count of death of a child by parent, guardian, custodian or other person by child abuse, one count of child abuse resulting in injury and one count of concealment of a deceased human body.
On Monday, March 6, a grand jury found enough evidence in the investigation to send the case to trial.
Lunsford is accused of striking Aliayah Lunsford in the head with a solid object on September 24, 2011. The toddler was three years old at the time. Deputies accuse the mother of refusing to allow anyone in the home to call for help and the girl later died.
Aliayah Lunsford was the subject of a long-time missing child investigation. Authorities have not indicated if Lena Lunsford has led them to the victim’s body.
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