Pocono News Section

Accused Child Killer in Court

Accused Child Killer in Court - Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 5:22PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 @05:22pm EST
STROUDSBURG - The McKinley Warren saga started seven years ago when the East Stroudsburg man's two year old daughter Jessica Bock died. Police believe he killed the toddler.

"It's a horrific tragic incident where this little girl was killed this was not accidental," said Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Mike Rakaczewski.

About seven years after Jessica died McKinley was arrested for severly beating his three year old son. A Grand Jury then found there was enough evidence to charge Warren with Jessica Bock's death.

Both cases will head to trial next year. Tuesday Warren's attorneys asked a judge to throw out some evidence and alter the trail. They don't want a jury to hear taped interviews in which Warren made incriminating statements.

Warren's attorney Brett Riegel said, "He had ingested a significant quantity of alcohol, oxycontin with codeine and I believe he was simply in an altered state when he was there."

Rakaczewski trusts that a jury could make is own judgement. He said, "You could very easily make your conclusions as to how he sounded on the tape."

Defense Attorneys ]want to separate the abuse and murder cases. They are similar. Both involve youn children who appear to have been beaten and malnourished. They also involve potty training issues. Warren apparently became extremely angry when the kids couldn't use the toilet.

Riegel said, "One could very easily remind you of the other. I don't know how a jury could ever - even with the judge's instructions - effectively separate the two cases."

The District Attorney's office said both cases should be tried together because they are so similar. The hearing is scheduled to continue later this year.