March 28, 2024

Adoptive parents of malnourished teen seek new trial site

ADEL (AP) — The adoptive parents of a 16-year-old girl who weighed only 56 pounds when she died want their trials moved out of Dallas County in central Iowa.

Court records say lawyers for 41-year-old Misty Ray filed a motion Friday mostly matching one filed earlier this month for her husband, 42-year-old Marc Ray. Both have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, child endangerment resulting in death, and other crimes.

The motions say the Rays can’t get fair trials in Dallas County because of extensive publicity. Misty Ray’s mother has made the same argument in her bid for a new trial location. Sixty-three-year-old Carla Bousman has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting child endangerment and other crimes.

An April 25 hearing has been scheduled on all three motions.