A woman charged with felony murder and child neglect after a 16-month-old toddler died while in her care was indicted as part of grand jury proceedings Tuesday in York-Poquoson Circuit Court.
Kyla Denise Ziegenhagen, 33, of Challenger Avenue in Hampton at the Langley Air Force Base housing complex, was indicted on two felony counts of child neglect and one count of felony second-degree murder.
Ziegenhagen was arrested on Aug. 14, 2014 — the day the child died — and has been held ever since at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Felony murder is a charge that results when the accidental death of a person occurs during the commission of another felonious act. In this case, it was felony child neglect, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
The toddler and an 8-year-old were in Ziegenhagen’s care and left unattended for several hours at her home, according to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators at the time of the arrest said they believed the toddler became entangled in a car seat harness while trying to get out of the car seat. A preliminary autopsy showed the child died from strangulation.
Also on Tuesday:
*Kevin Anthony Boone, 57, of Yorktown was indicted on charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI maiming, felony murder, felony DUI, revocation of license for multiple convictions of DUI, felony hit and run-injury, and involuntary manslaughter in connection with a Feb. 1 vehicle incident.
Alyssa Lynne Rhoades, 23, of Yorktown, died from injuries she suffered when she was hit by a vehicle Feb. 1 on Route 17 in York County. Another person was also seriously injured, according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Anaya.
*Jesse L. Cowles, 46, of Williamsburg was indicted on six counts of aggravated sexual battery and six counts of object sexual penetration for offenses alleged to have occurred in 2009.
Williams can be reached by phone at 757-247-4644.
