Sobbing Melissa Huckaby Indicted
Updated 3:23 PM PST, Tue, Aug 18, 2009
A grand jury has indicted Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby on charges she kidnapped, raped and killed 8-year-old Tracy resident Sandra Cantu and drugged two other people.
Huckaby, 28, broke down in tears as Judge Linda Lofthus read the five-count indictment against her Monday.
You can read the indictment for yourself here.
Huckaby also appeared to have two cuts above her right eye, but it was not immediately clear how those injuries occurred. It was later reported they were self-inflicted wounds.
Cantu's disappearance from a trailer park, the discovery of her body and the child's funeral drew national media attention.
Prosecutors convened a grand jury in late July rather than hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether Huckaby would stand trial. A trial date has not been set.
A prosecutor said a determination on whether to seek the death penalty will be made in the next 60 days or so.
Huckaby previously pleaded not guilty to murdering Cantu, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond north of Tracy in April.
Huckaby also pleaded not guilty to charges drugging a 7-year-old girl as well as a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had dated.
Huckaby is being held without bail.
KCRA.com contributed to this report.
First Published: Aug 17, 2009 3:01 PM PST
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