Mary Mast will remain out on bond, at least until her next court appearance.

During the early morning hours of December 20, 2020, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department was called to a residence in regards to an unresponsive 4-year-old girl.

When authorities arrived the girl’s father, James Mast told authorities that his daughter, Jessica Mast had been beaten, submerged in a pond, then left to freeze on the bank before being taken back into the residence, where she later died. The girl’s mother, Mary Mast and a 2-year-old male child had also reportedly been beaten to a severe extent.

The mother of the girl, 29-year-old Mary Mast, is facing charges for first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and first degree assault.

Mary Mast was scheduled to be arraigned on the amended charges on May 11 but, at the request of her attorney, her arraignment has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 1. The Court denied a request from the Prosecutor for Mary’s bond to be revoked. The Court is expected to take up this motion during her arraignment next month.

The father of the child, 28-year-old James Mast is charged with first-degree murder, first degree assault, and armed criminal action. James Mast remains out on bond after the Court denied a request from the State, to revoke his bond and hold him without bond until his trial. Preliminary Hearing in his case is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 22.

The neighbors, 36-year-old Ethan Mast and 21-year-old Kourtney Aumen, were originally charged with with murder in the first degree, three counts of assault in the first degree, and a felony for sexual abuse in the first Degree. Their charges have been upgraded to first degree murder, first degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Ethan Mast waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty on April 21. His case has been bound over to the trial division of Benton County Circuit Court for arraignment at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 1.

Aumen also waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the amended charges on Wednesday, April 21. A Preliminary Hearing in her case is scheduled to for 10 a.m. Monday, August 30.