A two-day jury trial scheduled this week in the case of two teens charged in the murder of their newborn baby has been cancelled.
Last fall, Sofia Elizabeth Dyson, now 20, and James Allen Matthew Brown, now 20, of Locust Grove, were charged in the death of an infant. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported it was made aware of the infant’s death in mid-November, but further investigation revealed the child had been born at home July 27 and killed immediately after. The baby was disposed of in a trashcan in the parking lot of a local retailer.
In May, an Orange County Grand Jury certified two charges against Dyson–first degree murder and concealing a dead body, and two charges against Brown–wilfully conspiring to defile a dead body and concealing a dead body. The jury also added charges via direct indictment including one count each of conspiring to commit first degree murder and abusing a child resulting in serious injury for Dyson and first degree murder, conspiring to commit first degree murder and abusing a child resulting in serious injury for Brown.
The two pleaded not guilty and a joint two-day jury trial was scheduled for Aug. 28-29. However, on Wednesday, that trial was cancelled at the request of Orange County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Russel Henderson. He said a plea agreement is being constructed. Both parties appeared in Orange County Circuit Court for a motion hearing. Defense attorneys had previously objected to the prosecution’s motion to continue the trial and requests to include certain evidence. Those objections were withdrawn. Dyson is being represented by James Herring while Brown is being represented by Amy Harper.
Both Dyson and Brown have been in custody at the Central Virginia Regional Jail since their arrests.
The plea agreement is expected to be considered Aug. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
