One of two Brookfield residents charged with Second-Degree Murder and other felonies after the findings of a death investigation earlier this year is due in court this week.

According to the Brookfield Police Department, during the early morning hours on February 9, officers responded to a call of an unresponsive 11-year-old boy on West Avenue. The child was transported by Linn County ambulance to Pershing Memorial Hospital, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy was conducted.

According to court documents, 48-year-old Darrel Royal and 50-year-old Nancy Royal have been charged with a Class A Felony for Second-Degree Murder; a Class A Felony for Abuse or Neglect of a Child Resulting in Death; a Class B Felony for Abuse or Neglect of a Child- Serious Emotional or Physical Injury- No Sexual Contact; and Class D Felonies for Abuse or Neglect of a Child- No Sexual Contact- and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Creating a Substantial Risk in the First Degree, First Offense- No Sexual Contact. They were arrested on August 30, and no bond was authorized by the court.

An attorney for each defendant filed a motion for bond reduction on September 24, and each was denied by the court.

A preliminary hearing for each defendant was held on Tuesday, December 3. Darrel Royal’s case was bound over to circuit court. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 9; while Nancy Royal’s next hearing is pending at Linn County Circuit Court.