A 25-year-old woman charged with killing her stepdaughter was found unfit to stand trial, following a court-appointed psychological evaluation.
Ashley J. Young of The Plains was charged with two counts of aggravated murder and child endangerment and one count of murder, tampering with evidence and attempted aggravated possession of drugs. Young allegedly killed her 4-year-old stepdaughter, Kaylen Young.
Kaylen was brought to O’Bleness Memorial Hospital May 23 with multiple life-threatening injuries, according to court documents. She died May 25 in Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Ashley was originally charged with attempted murder May 24. She was indicted by a grand jury on the seven felony counts June 11.
She was transported to the Athens Behavioral Health center Sept. 20 for court-ordered treatment observation and evaluation after a report by court-appointed psychologist Jolie Brams. The report found that she had immediate need for inpatient hospitalization, according to court documents.
Young would be returned to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail “when and if the staff of ABH determines her condition is stabilized,” according to a journal entry filed Sept. 20.
Young returned to jail Sept. 22, where she is still being held on $1 million bond.
The prosecution filed a motion Oct. 13 asking the court to find Young not competent enough to stand trial based on Bram’s report, according to court documents. Young’s lawyers are also asking for her medical records to be filed under seal, according to court documents.
Aggravated murder is a special felony. Young receive a maximum fine of $25,000 if convicted and could be sentenced to life in prison, life in prison without parole or death, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
The court has yet to issue a response to the motion.
ml147009@ohiou.edu
