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Jill Atwood ReportingTwenty eight-year-old Wendy Bullock made her first appearance in a Grand County courtroom today, charged with the murder of her two-and-a-half-year old daughter.
Over the next month or so 28-year old Wendy Bullock will receive a psychiatric evaluation. We know she has refused treatment for mental illness in the past; we also know child welfare caseworkers were keeping a close eye on the well-being of her child, but didn't see this coming.
Just days before, neighbors say Bullock was shoveling snow outside her Salt Lake City home as a bundled up little girl looked on. From the outside looking in everything appeared fine. In fact, according to child protective services, things seemed to be looking up.
Carol Sisco, Division of Child & Family Services: "Our last visit was December 22nd. Our caseworker went over, there was a tree up, mom said she had a job, we took some sub for Santa gifts, little girl was there and everything seemed fine."
But sometime between Christmas and New Years, police say that all changed. Bullock ended up along Interstate 70. She was beat-up and, according to another driver, suicidal. Her daughter, two-and-a-half-year old Sarah Bullock, was dead in the back seat.
Nate Srok lives across the street from Bullock and says he had a very odd conversation with her the morning before.
Nate Srok,, Neighbor: "She seemed pretty distraught when she came over in the morning. She was almost in tears asking if I could hire her at my coffee shop. ‘Q -- Was she desperate for money?’ Desperate for something, but I didn't know how to help her out."
Investigators say Bullock's troubles began back in August of 2002 when she was arrested for domestic violence. Since then she's been in and out of treatment for mental illness.
Rose Schwarz, Neighbor: "It's very, it's very very sad just to think about that. I wish I could have done something. I wish I knew anything. I just saw her daughter two or three days ago."
If investigators do know how the toddler died, they're not saying; although the deputy sheriff feels he has enough to go forward with the murder charge. Right now Bullock is under a suicide watch at the Grand County Jail. Her next court appearance is February 3rd.
