More than a dozen people testify against Hampton mother accused of murdering son
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HAMPTON, VA (WTKR) — All five charges against Julia Tomlin will move forward to Circuit Court. During the Hampton mother’s preliminary hearing Monday morning, a total of 14 people took the stand for the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
Julia was arrested over the summer, just days after she reported her two-year-old son, Noah missing. His body was found more than a week later inside the Hampton Steam Plant. At first, the only charges against her were three felony child neglect charges. In October, murder and unlawful disposal of a body charges were also added.
Julia wore a light blue Hampton Roads Regional Jail jumpsuit this morning. Surrounded by deputies, she barely looked up from the defense table.
Witness after witness took the stand. They ranged from police officers, FBI agents, former boyfriends, and a father to one of her children.
The first witness to take the stand told the judge he brought Julia heroin on June 22nd. Two days before Noah was reported missing. The man said he is the father of one of Julia’s children. He stayed at the house for some time after giving Julia the drug to visit with his child. He says Julia was the only adult in the house and says he saw Noah in the living room.
A few hours later on June 22nd, another man came to Julia’s house. He told the judge he thought he was Noah’s father. He wanted to meet Noah, but Julia wouldn’t allow him to see the child. He testified that Julia told him Noah was sleeping. The Commonwealth later presented evidence that shows that Noah was likely dead at the time the man came over.
The FBI agent who testified told the judge Julia said Noah died while taking an unattended bath. Julia told her that Noah hit his head and drowned. She then put him into bed, and then later put his in a diaper box and had a friend throw Noah’s body away.
It is still not clear if the man who threw Noah’s body out knew that there was a body in the box. No charges have been filed against him at this time.
After hearing from the 14 witnesses, the defense tried to have two of the child neglect charges thrown out along with the homicide charge. The judge denied the defense’s motion. He ruled that the case against Julia will be heard by a Grand Jury in January. A trial date will then be set.
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