JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A woman accused in the death of her infant baby in Stutsman County has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and child neglect.
25 year-old Justice Lange entered her plea Wednesday morning in a Stutsman County. During the probable cause hearing earlier this year, it was reported that Lange had last been seen on June 28th in Woodworth, ND. Lange told authorities she had taken meth before leaving Jamestown with the baby.
On July 2nd, Lange was reported missing by her boyfriend. On July 6th, Lange was found walking on a road in rural Stutsman County. Authorities then began searching for the child and were able to locate the slough where she said she had been staying with the baby.
Autopsy results found that the baby died of starvation and environmental factors.
Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen requested that Lange be charged as a habitual offender, which would double the maximum sentence for each charge.