Mother accused of killing daughter pleads not guilty in court

Mother accused of killing daughter pleads not guilty in court

Posted: Feb 04, 2012 6:37 PM EST

Updated: Feb 06, 2012 5:54 AM EST

By Curtis McCloud - bio | email

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -

Jennifer Long's face was calm as she entered recorder's court Saturday morning. She had the support of her attorney and what appeared to be family members. Long entered a plea of not guilty to murder.

This tragic story began on Sunday January 29th when Columbus Dispatch received a call about an unresponsive 18=month-old baby girl named Alexis Long.

She was immediately air-lifted and checked into Egleston Hospital in Atlanta. Unfortunately, baby Alexis would not check out. She died at the hospital the next day.

Two days later her parents Jennifer and Timothy Long were arrested in connection with her death.

Investigators said in court that during their investigation they recovered a damaged changing table from the Long's home in Columbus. Detective Knight with Columbus Police Department said in court Saturday morning that Timothy Long told police in a statement baby Alexis had a temper tantrum after a long trip.

He also told police his wife threw baby Alexis on the changing table. Alexis stopped crying then Jennifer put the baby on the floor.

Detective Knight says the baby suffered from moderate to large tissue swelling to the back of the head. The autopsy report was completed on Alexis Long and the baby's death was ruled as a homicide.

The case has been bound over to Superior Court and Jennifer Long is being held in the Muscogee County Jail with no bond.