A Northern California woman charged with kidnapping, raping and killing an 8-year-old girl and drugging two other people is expected back in court Thursday.
Melissa Huckaby may learn Thursday when she could go to trial for the murder of Sandra Cantu. The girl's body was found stuffed in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond in April.
In July, a grand jury indicted the 28-year-old former Sunday school teacher. A Superior Court judge then gave Huckaby's defense lawyer two months to review the indictment and return to court to discuss a possible trial dates.
Prosecutors want a speedy trial because the case involves a minor.
Huckaby's behavior in August prompted four different jail incident reports.
On Aug. 12, a custody officer wrote at 2:30 p.m., "I found Huckaby laying on the floor next to her bed. [She] stated that she felt dizzy and passed out."
At 3 p.m. that day, an officer noted, "I saw Huckaby sitting next to her bed w/ trash can. When I asked her what wrong she replied, 'I took pills.'"
On Aug. 16 at 4:45 p.m., a report said, "Inmate Huckaby was hiding behind mattress w/ blanket around her neck. To safety cell per psych."
At 5:15 p.m. that day, the report said that Huckaby had refused dinner.
Because there is a gag order in place, no one is commenting on the incidents.
That same gag order has kept Cantu's autopsy report sealed.
