One of two Brookfield residents charged with Second-Degree Murder and other felonies after the findings of a death investigation in 2019 is due in court this week.
According to the Brookfield Police Department, on February 9, officers responded to a call of an unresponsive 11-year-old boy on West Avenue. The child was transported 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.
On December 3, Darrel Royal’s case was bound over to circuit court. During his arraignment on December 20, the motion by Royal’s attorney for change of venue was sustained. His case has been transferred to Livingston County Circuit Court.
A preliminary hearing, with additional evidence presented, for Nancy Royal was held on December 3. Another preliminary hearing is scheduled to be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, at Linn County Circuit Court.