Evaluation Underway for Woman Accused in Daughter’s Death
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The Belmont woman accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter underwent an evaluation Friday.
Autum Sky Palmer, 20, also known as Autum Stotelmyer, was scheduled to appear before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter Monday morning for a review of Friday's evaluation.
The evaluation was to determine whether Palmer is competent to stand trial.
Last month, Palmer entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Since entering the plea, she has been transferred from the Belmont County Jail to an undisclosed locked treatment facility.
Palmer did not appear in court Monday, but three members of her family were present in the courtroom.
On July 31, Palmer allegedly killed her 1-year-old daughter at a home on Buttermilk Road in Belmont. According to the court, the child celebrated her first birthday July 28, just three days before the incident.
Palmer was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated murder.
At about 8:38 a.m. July 31, Belmont County Central Dispatch received a 911 call from a woman reporting an emergency at the home. Belmont County deputies and emergency personnel arrived at about 8:47 a.m.
Upon arriving, they found an unresponsive 1-year-old suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Deputies attempted lifesaving measures, but the child died at the scene.
"To my knowledge, she was transferred to a treatment facility. Also, to my knowledge is that she was to be evaluated for these proceedings this past Friday, and that happened at the facility," Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vavra said. "I think that those evaluations did happen this past Friday but I can’t speak as to when we would have the results, but I would think it wouldn’t be too far in the future."
Berhalter then asked Belmont County Public Defender Cole Antolak, who represents Palmer, whether what Vavra said was accurate.
Antolak confirmed that Vavra's statement was correct.
"And in speaking with the evaluator, we would anticipate having the first evaluation results within the next two weeks," Antolak said.
Berhalter then set an additional review in the matter for Sept. 21 at 10 a.m.