The case against three women charged with capital murder in the death of 34-year-old Miranda Lynch, who witnesses say was held against her will and beaten to get food stamp money, is being forwarded to a grand jury, a judge on Wednesday ordered at the end of a two-day preliminary hearing in Bessemer.
Attorneys for two of the women say their clients played no role in Lynch’s Aug. 7 death and that there is contradictory evidence in the case.
At least five others, besides Lynch and the three women charged, were in and out of the trailer during the alleged events and several said they were too scared to help or call authorities, according to testimony. One witness did call 911 the night before Lynch died but deputies received it as possible drug activity in the area and responded but didn’t go to the specific trailer, a detective testified.
Bessemer Cutoff Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Hobdy late Wednesday afternoon said he found probable cause for the charges against Karen Dee Kirby, 57, of Bessemer, her daughter Susan Denae Otts, 39, and Otts’ cousin, 43-year-old Tamara Luffman Giarrusso. The judge also denied bond for the women, who are being held in the Jefferson County Jail.