Woman charged in Va. Beach in daughter's 2009 death

VIRGINIA BEACH

A woman has been charged with murdering her daughter, 2-1/2 years after police originally charged the baby's uncle with the crime.

Julie M. Calahan, 23, of Brinkley, Ark., was extradited back to Virginia Beach last month and is awaiting trial, according to a news release. She is being held in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center without bond.

In May 2009, dispatchers received a call about an unresponsive baby in the 5000 block of Gunter St. The child was taken to a hospital. A preliminary investigation showed the 11-month-old girl, Lakeira Jewell Calahan, had been left with her uncle while her parents were at work. Tests showed Lakeira's injuries were consistent with "shaken baby syndrome."

That same month, Lakeira's uncle, Stephen C. Calahan, 23, was arrested and charged with child abuse, and later, second-degree murder. Prosecutors later dropped the murder charge. He pleaded guilty to child neglect and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment.