The woman accused of fatally injuring three-year-old Brook Stagles took the stand in her own defense today. Erica Bell testified to an upbringing that included physical abuse and a history of drug use starting at the age of 14. Erica Bell testified she was in an abusive relationship with Brook’s father, Michael Stagles. She said […]
Erica Bell’s grandmother took the stand today in Bell’s murder trial. Deborah Smith testified that Bell admitted to her that she hit three-year-old Brooke Stagles, her boyfriend’s daughter. Bell is accused of beating the little girl to death, punching her so hard in the stomach that it ruptured her intestines and caused her death three […]
The Monroe County Medical Examiner took the stand today in the murder trial of Erica Bell, giving more testimony on the nature of the injuries inflicted on the three-year-old victim, Brooke Stagles. Stagles died of a ruptured intestine, according to the prosecution, after Bell punched her in the stomach. The defense is blaming Bell’s boyfriend, […]