Deadline set in case of Bellefontaine mom accused of smothering sons

The Bellefontaine mother accused of smothering her three sons to death appeared in court on Monday.

A judge set a May 15 deadline for attorneys to submit any additional motions in the case of Brittany Pilkington, Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart said. No new date for trial was set.

RELATED: Logan County judge OKs Brittany Pilkington confession tape for trial

Pilkington, 25, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of her three sons over 13 months and faces the death penalty.

Infant Niall died in July 2014, 4-year-old Gavin Pilkington in April of 2015, and 3-month-old Noah four months later in August 2015.

Recorded interviews with police were shown in court last year. The recordings appear to show the young mother crying and she can be heard telling police she smothered all three sons, covered their faces with blankets and "put pressure" on them for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute.

Pilkington’s lawyers argued the tape shouldn’t be used at trial because her rights were violated in the interview and they said she didn’t understand the context of her discussion with police.

LEARN MORE: Abuse, isolation alleged in Bellefontaine mom’s case

But Judge Mark O’Conner disagreed and ruled the tape will be allowed at trial. The judge also denied Pilkington’s attorney’s request to split the three counts of murder and have separate trials.

Pilkington’s trial, which was originally scheduled for October 2016, was then delayed until February 2017. It was delayed again and no future date has been set.

5 QUICK CRIME READS

Springfield man charged with trafficking 5 kinds of drugs

Springfield man who killed father, brother with ax gets out of prison

Springfield women accused of beating another woman with wrench

Springfield Police: 4 kids found in home full of trash, dog feces

Springfield man killed in crash on U.S. 68 in Greene Co.

About the Author