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Woman to plead guilty in infant's 2013 death

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INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis woman has agreed to plead guilty to her role in the death of her 1-year-old daughter in May 2013.

Nikita Dunn, 28, was scheduled to begin trial Monday on a charge of neglect of a dependent. Her daughter, 1-year-old Aubrie Strode-Dunn, was pronounced dead on May 4, 2013, after medics were called to Dunn’s home when the child became unresponsive.

An examination of the child revealed extensive bruising to multiple parts of the body, along with brain swelling and internal bleeding.

Dunn and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Darrell Daniels, were arrested on child neglect charges.

Daniels was found guilty of neglect of a dependent in January 2017 and sentenced the following month to 20 years in prison followed by five years in Marion County Community Corrections. The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected Daniels’ appeal of that sentence in September 2017.

A jury was empaneled to hear Dunn’s case on Monday, but was ultimately sent home after she indicated to the court that she wanted to change her plea to guilty in the case.

A change of plea hearing was scheduled for April 11 at 1:00 p.m. in Marion County Criminal Court 2.

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