Mercedes Lain: Babysitter Appears in Court on New Murder Charge

The babysitter of 11-month-old Mercedes Lain has now been charged with the little girl’s murder.

Justin Miller appeared in court on Friday on the murder charge and was ordered to remain in jail on a $500,000 bond, WNDU reported.

Miller was originally charged with child neglect causing death, as CrimeOnline previously reported. The baby’s parents, Kenneth Lain and Tiffany Coburn, have been charged with neglect.

Baby Mercedes’ body was found last month in a remote area of Starke County, Indiana, three days after she was reported missing and after the arrests of Lain, Coburn, and Miller. Miller reportedly led investigators to the body.

An autopsy revealed that the little girl died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Court documents say the parents dropped Mercedes off with Miller on August 12 “so the parents could have a break.”

Miller and the girl were at a motel in Plymouth until August 14, when he took the baby to a house in Mishawaka. Miller told police that he woke up at some point that day and found the girl dead. He reportedly left the child’s body in a wooded area of Starke County later that day.

Miller’s next court date is in October. Lain and Coburn are due back in court on September 15.

Read CrimeOnline’s coverage of Mercedes Lain’s disappearance and death.

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[Featured image: Justin Miller and Mercedes Lain]