GADSDEN, Alabama — An Alabama judge refused to set bond for Joyce Garard as she awaits trial in the death of her granddaughter, who prosecutors say was run to death.
Circuit Judge William Ogletree made the decision during a Tuesday morning court hearing in Gadsden.
The Alabama grandmother is trying to get out of jail as she awaits trial in the death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, who prosecutors say was forced to run until she died.
Six neighbors of Garard testified during the bond hearing that they would be fine with the woman's release from jail, where she's currently held without bond.
But the judge sided with prosecutors, who had argued that bond isn't allowed in capital cases under Alabama law.
Garrard has been jailed more than a year on a capital murder charge awaiting trial in the death of Savannah Hardin.
Authorities say the woman forced Savannah to run as punishment for a lie, and the girl eventually collapsed. She died days later in February 2012.
The girl's stepmother also is charged with murder, but the judge previously released her on bond.
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