Weaver Pleads Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

The former Muskingum University student charged in connection with the death of her newborn baby made her first appearance in court Wednesday.

Twenty-year-old, Emile Weaver appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court for an arraignment, entering two pleas: not guilty, and not guilty by reason of insanity. The four-count indictment brought against Weaver, includes aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse, and two counts of tampering with evidence. During Wednesday’s arraignment, the judge ruled Weaver’s bond would remain at $1 million.

"This morning I filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, as well as a plea of not guilty, we ask the court to accept those pleas," said Clayton Lopez, Weaver’s attorney.

The newborn was found dead on April 22, inside a plastic bag in a trash receptacle at the Delta Gamma Theta Sorority house on the campus of Muskingum University. Muskingum County Prosecutor Mike Haddox said, if convicted of murder, Weaver could face life in prison without parole.