A former Highlands Ranch resident who was charged with the murder of her daughter has been granted bond. A grand jury charged Kelly Turner, 41, with 13 counts, including murder, child abuse, theft …
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A former Highlands Ranch resident who was charged with the murder of her daughter has been granted bond.
A grand jury charged Kelly Turner, 41, with 13 counts, including murder, child abuse, theft and forgery in October. The charges came after she convinced doctors in 2017 that her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia Gant, was terminally ill, according to the indictment.
Turner raised funds for the child's sickness and had a Make-A-Wish party for her daughter, according to the indictment. Then she allegedly refused care for her daughter against a doctor's advice. Within weeks, Olivia died.
Judge Patricia Herron granted Turner a $250,000 bond during a Jan. 21 hearing. Turner was still being held at the Douglas County jail as of Jan. 22.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney's office asked the judge to set the bond at $4 million, claiming Turner was both a flight risk and a danger to the community. Turner was living in a hotel at the time of her arrest, suggesting her life in Colorado isn't permanent, said Christopher Gallo, chief deputy district attorney.
Gallo also pointed out that Turner has two prior felonies in Texas involving fraud and crimes against children. He added that when speaking with the child's grandparents, they said they wanted the highest possible bond and a life sentence for Turner.
Public defender Ara Ohanian asked for the bond to be set at $10,000, claiming Turner was not a flight risk because of how much family she has in the area. Ohanian said a $4 million bond was the same as denying bond because Turner wouldn't be able to afford it.
Ohanian added that once the child's doctors were able to testify, they would counter the prosecution's evidence strongly. He also said that if he had been able to cross-examine the witnesses for the grand jury indictment “you would be hearing very different things."
Herron said she would go in the middle of the two options.
“I'm less concerned about Turner's appearance in court…than I am about community safety,” she said.
Turner told doctors and media that her daughter had multiple conditions including a seizure disorder, autism and malfunctioning intestines. An autopsy later showed she was not facing many of the conditions her mother claimed, according to the indictment.
While Turner lived in Highlands Ranch at the time of Olivia's treatment, she was arrested at a Glendale hotel.
Turner's next court appearance will be 10 a.m. Feb. 28.
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