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SALT LAKE CITY — For a second time, prosecutors and defense attorneys asked a judge for more time to complete an investigation and medical evaluations for Alicia Englert, who is accused of dumping her newborn baby in a trash can in August.
But preparations on both sides to move forward in the case are nearing completion, according to defense attorney Zachary Weyher.
"The investigation's ongoing. There's still some evaluations being done," he said following a court hearing Monday. "We're looking into all her medical records, everything that could be relevant. … We don't need much more time."
Englert, 23, is charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony.
Englert gave birth to the baby inside a bathroom toilet in her Kearns home on Aug. 24, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. After the birth, Englert wrapped the infant in a blanket and left her on the bedroom floor, neglecting to care for her until she placed her in a neighbor's trash can two days later, he said.
The baby has since been released from the hospital and is in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services.
Englert's parents declined to comment Monday, but previously said their daughter has "special needs," "doesn't process things correctly," didn't know she was pregnant and didn't understand what she was doing.
Prosecutors, however, disagree.
"She admitted she knew that not providing any care for the baby was wrong, but said she didn't want her parents to 'freak out' or to know that she'd been pregnant and delivered a baby," charging documents state.
Englert will appear in court on Oct. 16 to schedule a preliminary hearing. In that hearing, a judge will decide whether her case will go to trial.
"There's a lot more relevant than simply the tragedy that happened in August," Weyher said. "We think that there's just a broader investigation."
Englert is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail. Another hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20 to determine whether the bail amount will be adjusted to facilitate Englert's release.
