We now know when a Christiansburg woman will be in court, facing multiple charges in connection with the death of her son last year.
Kayla Thomas’s three-day trial is scheduled to begin on January 20, 2021.
Wednesday’s proceedings were supposed to be a plea hearing for Thomas, but the prosecution pushed for a jury trial.
She faces the following charges:
- Committing forcible sodomy by engaging in fellatio against the victim’s will by force, threat or intimidation
- Inanimate object penetration of a person less than 13 years of age
- Production of child pornography involving a child less than 15 years of age
- Possession and distribution of child pornography
- Being a parent or guardian, commit a willful act so gross and wanton as to show a reckless disregard for human life — child neglect
She and her boyfriend, McKenzie Hellman, are accused of murdering and sexually abusing her 2-year-old son, Steven Dale Meek II.
During Thursday’s hearing, the defense requested an evaluation of Thomas’ sanity at the time of the alleged offense.
Hellman, whose trial will begin in October, faces the following charges:
- Felony murder
- Child abuse/neglect
- Reproducing child pornography as an accessory
- Producing child pornography as an accessory
- Object sexual penetration as an accessory
- Possession of child pornography
10 News has covered this case extensively. Read more from our coverage:
- Court date set for Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June 22, 2020)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son indicted on 6 felony charges (Published Jan. 28, 2020)
- Hearing reveals alleged abuse New River Valley toddler faced before his death (Published Dec. 20, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son deemed fit to stand trial (Published Oct. 25, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother charged in connection with toddler’s death expected to enter a plea (Published Oct. 16, 2019)
- Case continued for Christiansburg mother charged with sexually abusing her now-dead toddler (Published June 19, 2019)
- Mental evaluation ordered for Christiansburg man accused of killing his girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June. 3, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing toddler asks for sanity, competency evaluation (Published May 30, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother, boyfriend who police say sexually abused her 2-year-old son appear in court (Published Feb. 28, 2019)
- Boyfriend charged with murder, he and mother sexually abused 2-year-old, police say (Published Jan. 18, 2019)
- Mother of 2-year-old who died charged with making child porn, sexually assaulting children (Published Jan. 17, 2019)
- 2-year-old boy dies, Christiansburg man now faces child abuse charge (Published Jan. 14, 2019)
Source: WSLS News 10