Louisiana Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Killing 6-Year-Old Girl

A Louisiana girl pleaded not responsible Friday to first-degree homicide and obstruction prices within the April 25 killing of 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle, whose physique was present in a big plastic bucket on her mom’s entrance garden.

Authorities allege that Hannah Landon, 43, beat and strangled Bella, the daughter of her live-in boyfriend, stuffed her physique in a 10-gallon bucket, after which towed it on a small wagon to the home of the lady’s organic mom, who lived close by in Harahan.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto stated that Bella’s father reported his daughter and girlfriend lacking the morning of April 26. Authorities allege that Landon (often known as Bunnak Lim and Bunnak Landon) killed Bella someday after 7:30 the evening earlier than when Bella’s grandmother stated she helped her and her 7-year-old sister prepare for mattress earlier than leaving the ladies in Landon’s care.

Authorities stated a safety digital camera captured a lady believed to be Landon retrieving a big bucket from the facet of her home at round 9:30 p.m. Video surveillance footage obtained from different neighbors exhibits a lady authorities recognized as Landon pulling a wagon with a bucket down her avenue and the following avenue over, the place Bella’s mom lived.

After returning dwelling with the empty wagon, authorities stated Landon buried her cellphone in a close-by yard and went to the Harahan Police Division round midnight. She appeared “distressed,” a police officer stated, however she didn’t clarify why. She was ultimately transported to the hospital, the place she was arrested later that day.

Bella’s father and mom, who shared custody of the 6-year-old and her sister, aren’t thought of suspects within the youngster’s killing, authorities stated.

In a June 29 courtroom listening to, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Workplace murder detective stated that though the ladies stated Landon was “imply” and so they didn’t like staying at their father’s home, there was no indication that she would hurt his daughters.

Bella’s mom, nonetheless, advised police in 2021 that Landon had attacked her at a swim meet, based on courtroom information obtained by NOLA.com. In response, Landon, who claimed Bella’s mom began the struggle, filed for a restraining order towards Bella’s mom, which a decide later denied.

On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Landon on the homicide cost and two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly disposing of the physique and hiding her cellphone.

Landon will stay within the Jefferson Parish Correctional Middle, the place she has been held with out bond since her arrest on April 26. Attorneys representing Landon didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Prosecutors is not going to be pursuing the loss of life penalty, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish District Legal professional’s Workplace advised HuffPost.

A decide Thursday set Landon’s bail at $2.5 million.