COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus mother and her girlfriend who are accused of killing 8-year-old Martonio Wilder pleaded not guilty to all charges in a Franklin County court on Wednesday.
LaShanda Wilder, Martonio's mother, and Johnna Lowe, her girlfriend, are charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, endangering children, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
The judge gave LaShanda a $2 million bond and Lowe a $1 million bond.
The case began on June 28 when LaShanda called 911 to report that her son Martonio was missing. Police later found Martonio’s body in the attic of LaShanda’s home. LaShanda and Lowe turned themselves in to police the following day.
Both women showed no emotion in court on Wednesday as the prosecutor read details of the case.
“Miss Wilder admits to locking Martonio in a small coat closet where he slept at night so they can’t sneak out for food,” said the prosecutor. “Miss Lowe admitted to beating Martonio on June 26. Hitting him in the back with an extension cord and crutch.”
The prosecutor revealed that the coroner ruled Martonio's death a result of abuse and malnutrition.
These new details were heartbreaking to Martonio's family in court.
Rachelle Knight, his great aunt, and Siea Glover, his cousin, both cried as the prosecutor described what happened to the young boy.
“She hid this from us, she hid this from us. There was a lot of stuff we did not know,” said Knight.
“There were a lot of people who tried to love him and she literally took him away,” said Glover.
Knight said when she saw LaShanda on video in the courtroom, she got an overwhelming feeling that she did not care about what she did and what she was charged with.
“I know my niece, I read her whole body language. She don’t care,” said Knight.
Knight said Martonio was full of life and his favorite thing to say was "I love you."
“That baby, he didn’t even know why the person he wanted to love him the most didn’t love him. She did not love him and we all don’t even know why. He’s the sweetest. He would say, ‘Good morning, I love you. Good morning,'” said Knight. “Now I know why he said I love you so much. Because his time was short, but he made sure we knew that he loved us.”