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Jill Atwood ReportingThe 38-year old grandmother accused of drowning her granddaughter made her first appearance in a Utah Courtroom.
Police transferred Kelley Jean Lodmell from Idaho to face a federal kidnapping charge, but both defenders and the prosecution have questions about her mental competency.
Lodmell faces a kidnapping charge in Utah, and kidnapping and murder charges in Idaho.
Two weeks of searching the Snake River the end of last month turned up no sign of 19-month old Acacia Bishop. Police say Lodmell told them she went into the river to kill herself and the baby.
Today, Lodmell plead not guilty to the kidnapping charge. She didn't say much, but appeared to understand what was happening.
The federal case will proceed first, because of the mental competency issue in anticipation of an insanity defense.
Richard Lambert/U.S. Attorney's Office: "Clearly there are mental issues in this case and we indicated the Federal Bureau of Prisons has the facilities to do a thorough mental evaluation and I believe that is anticipated in this case."
Acacia's parents are still in Idaho searching; they are not convinced she is actually in the river.
Lodmell is set to go to trial here on September 2nd, unless the mental evaluation delays things.
