BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Menokka Karr Nealy, the 29-year-old woman charged in the stabbing death of her 5-year-old daughter, made her first court appearance in the case Monday morning where a judge set her bond at $2 million.
Shortly after Nealy's arraignment began at 11 a.m. in Bedford Heights Municipal Court, the judge ordered a brief break so she had the ability to meet with her newly appointed attorney.
Minutes later when the hearing resumed, Nealy's attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf while announcing their decision to waive the preliminary hearing.
Nealy faces charges of murder and felonious assault in the case. The judge said the matter is being bound over to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.
The situation started around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when the Bedford Heights Police Department responded to a call that a child had been stabbed at an apartment in the 5300 block of Northfield Road.
Upon their arrival, officers found the girl with multiple stab wounds. She has been identified as E’nijah Noell Holland.
Nealy was arrested at the scene.
"It’s unimaginable to think that somebody would do that to their child,” says Bedford Heights Police Sergeant Robert Major. “Our hearts go out to the family, especially the child's father. I couldn’t imagine what he's going through right now."
The child’s father, Gregory Holland, had called 911 saying he was concerned for his child after receiving a FaceTime call from Nealy.
“She said she stabbed her,” Holland told police.
3News' Carmen Blackwell reported Monday night that the child’s father was in the process of trying to gain custody of his daughter. Those custody hearings were delayed, however, due to COVID and recent snowstorms.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE IN THE CASE: