An Ohio woman who allegedly killed her 3-year-old son last month had her bond set at $1 million on Monday.
According to WOIO, the Cuyahoga County coroner determined Curtis Wither died on June 17 from blunt force trauma. He died three days after he was reportedly found unresponsive in a stroller outside of a Family Dollar — resulting in the arrest of his mother, Timmeka Eggelton, 30.
Wither’s foster parents previously told WJW that they had the boy since he was seven days old. However, a judge permanently placed him back with his mother in March.
The foster parents said they wanted to adopt Wither and expressed concerns regarding his safety to the judge. WJW reported that despite this, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Judge Alison Floyd placed him back with Eggelton in July 2022.
Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services was conducting visits between July 2022 and March, when Eggelton was awarded permanent custody. At that March hearing, an attorney representing Curtis asked to delay making a decision regarding protective supervision because Eggelton refused to allow DCFS into her home.
“The mother was verbally abusive [toward me], beyond what is typical, speaking in a very insulting and demeaning manner, as well as swearing and being dishonest. She also stated I was not to speak to her of anything she did not want to discuss; it was not clear if she meant permanently or just on that call,” the attorney alleged, according to WJW.
The judge denied this motion, finding Eggelton completed parenting classes and mental health treatment. In her decision — handed down three months before Curtis’ murder — she wrote, “The continued supervision is not necessary and not in the child’s best interest.”
On Monday, Eggelton pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and endangering children. She is due back in court on July 6.
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[Featured image: Curtis Wither/WJW video screengrab; Timmeka Eggelton/Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office]
