Grand jury to get child-care death case

Thursday, March 13, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The child-care provider charged with murder in the death of a 14-month-old girl was arraigned today in Justice Court.

But while a March 28 preliminary hearing date was set for 33-year-old Alica Daneen Wegner, Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon said the case will be presented to a Clark County grand jury on March 27.

Kierra Harrison died at University Medical Center March 5 of a severe skull fracture.

Wegner's attorney, Steve Wolfson, criticized the decision to take the case to a grand jury, stating that the grand jurors will have been tainted by the publicity the case has received -- including information that would be inadmissible in a grand jury proceeding.

Wolfson added that it is premature to take the case to a grand jury since there is not even an autopsy report available.

While Wegner would have the right to testify at a grand jury, Wolfson said no decision about that possibility has been made.

Kierra was being cared for on March 3 in Wegner's licensed home child care business when the woman called police to say the girl had hit her head and was unresponsive.

Police arrested Wegner on child abuse charges the next day at her home at 6960 Mountain Moss Drive, near Twain Avenue and Tenaya Way, after physicians determined the baby's injuries were not accidental.

Metro Police said Kierra had been spending her days with Wegner for two to three weeks before the incident.