DC Mom Held In 3-Year-Old Son's Beating Death
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A judge has ordered that a D.C. mother charged in the beating death of her 3-year-old son remain jailed.
The D.C. Superior Court judge issued that order Wednesday for 25-year-old Frances Lyles.
Lyles' attorney had argued for her release, saying there's no evidence she was directly responsible for the June 23 death of Xavier Lyles and that she has no criminal history.
Prosecutor Cynthia Wright argued that Lyles has a history of "excessive punishment and physical abuse to children," and is a danger to her two other kids, a 3-month-old and a 9-year-old.
Magistrate Judge Karen Howze ordered Lyles held and set her next hearing for Oct. 2.
The Washington Post reports that a homicide detective escorted prosecutor Wright out of the courthouse after Lyles' family threatened her.
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