The lawyer for a Jefferson City woman charged in connection with the death of a 4-year old Jefferson City boy has asked for a change of venue for her client's case.
Cole County Presiding Judge Pat Joyce will consider the request for Quatavia Givens, 26, made by Assistant Public Defender Taylor Elswick. Such requests are usually made when the defense in a case believes it would be difficult to find an impartial jury in the location where the crime occurred due to media coverage given to the case.
Givens is charged with one count of abuse of a child. The charge came after authorities allege Givens abused Darnell Gray in late October while she was babysitting him.
Givens had reported to authorities that Gray was missing and thought he may have been abducted, which triggered a weeklong search, ending with authorities finding Gray's body. Authorities said Givens later admitted she injured the boy and an autopsy showed he suffered multiple injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
A hearing on Givens case is scheduled in Joyce's court on Jan. 9.