Las Vegas NowTrial for Parents of Murdered Child Delayed

Trial for Parents of Murdered Child Delayed

Perez and Colon Arrest Report: Details of the Murder Case:
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A couple accused of killing a three-year-old girl faced a judge Thursday, in what many are expecting to be an emotional trial. Gladys Perez and Marc Anthony Colon are accused of killing Perez's daughter, Crystal Figueroa, more than two years ago.

The child's beaten body was found in a dumpster back in 2006. For several weeks, she remained unidentified and was known to the community only as Jane Cordova Doe.

Thursday, the two were in court so a judge could determine if statements they made to police were voluntary or involuntary. Ultimately, the judge ruled a jury could hear their statements made to police before their arrest.

Timeline for Crystal Figueroa Case

It was a lengthy hearing with only two witnesses. Colon only talked to his attorneys. Perez was a little more involved, taking her own notes of what happened in the courtroom today.

The actual trial is expected to last three weeks.

In 2006, Figueroa's body was found in a dumpster. Police believe Colon, Perez and children were staying in Las Vegas when Colon went out for night of gambling. He came back at the end of the night, upset he had lost money. That's when police believe he started to hit Perez and Crystal.

The next day, Crystal complained of stomach pains. The couple contemplated taking her to the hospital but changed their minds, afraid bruises on their bodies would alert hospital staff. Crystal eventually stopped breathing.

Police believe Colon and Perez placed her body in a dumpster and left, never calling 911. Both Perez and Colon are now charged with the toddler's murder.

"It's obviously going to be a very hard fought trial. We have two defendants who are pointing the finger at each other, so it's going to be unusual in that respect," said Colon's defense attorney Chris Oram.

Community Refuses to Give Up on Baby Jane "Cordova" Doe

The Las Vegas community became very attached to the little girl they knew as Jane Cordova Doe. The child was eventually identified by her grandmother who filed a missing persons report.

The community built a huge memorial in little Crystal's honor. It was visited by strangers for weeks.

The prosecution did not want to comment on the case. Neither do Gladys Perez's attorneys.

The prosecution did say it is going to be a lengthy murder trial. They expect to call about 50 witnesses in this case. Jury selection should begin next Thursday.