Rilya Wilson: Geralyn Graham won't be retried for murder
Rilya Wilson: Geralyn Graham won't be retried for murder
Geralyn Graham , who was convicted of kidnapping and child abuse in the case of 4-year-old foster child Rilya Wilson (pictured), has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.Photographer: AP Graphics Bank
Posted: 10/30/2013
MIAMI - MIAMI (AP) -- Prosecutors in Miami have decided not to retry the caretaker of long-missing child Rilya Wilson on a murder charge.
A memo released Wednesday by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office recommends the charge be dismissed against Geralyn Graham. The 68-year-old Graham was sentenced earlier this year to 55 years in prison on kidnapping and child abuse charges, but jurors deadlocked on the murder count.
The memo cites numerous difficulties with another trial, including the fact that Rilya's body was never found.
Four-year-old Rilya vanished in December 2000 from Graham's home but her disappearance wasn't noticed for 15 months, largely because a Department of Children and Families caseworker neglected to check on her.
The state's case hinged on jailhouse informants who say Graham confessed to them. Graham insists she is innocent