Trial in toddler’s death delayed

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 | 8:39 a.m.

A District Court judge on Tuesday postponed a trial for the Henderson mother charged in the death of her 18-month-old daughter and the abuse and neglect of her four other children.

Sophia Mendoza, 20, was scheduled to stand trial next week on second-degree murder and child abuse and neglect charges in the death of Sierra Tisdale. But District Judge Donald Mosley postponed the trial until Feb. 22, 2005, after prosecutors and defense attorneys said they needed more time to arrange testimony from medical witnesses.

"The cause of death is the central issue in this case," Chief Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane said.

Sierra was found dead in a back bedroom of the couple's home. Her twin brother, Jacob, was found vomiting and having breathing difficulty. Three other children -- a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old -- also showed signs of neglect, including malnutrition and dehydration.

Kane and Deputy Special Public Defender Phil Kohn said they needed more time to take depositions from about a half dozen medical witnesses who would testify during Mendoza's trial.

Demone Tisdale, 21, Mendoza's live-in boyfriend, faced identical charges in the case. He pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder, one count of felony child abuse and neglect and three gross misdemeanor counts of child abuse and neglect.