RIPLEY, W.Va. — A Jackson County man accused of killing an infant will begin his trial early next year following a pretrial hearing Wednesday.
Benjamin Taylor, of Cottageville, was arrested in Oct. 2016 in connection to the death of 10-month-old Emmaleigh Barringer, and was later charged with murder, sexual assault and child abuse.
The state Medical Examiner’s Office previously said the cause of Barringer’s death was a skull fracture.
The trial will begin Feb. 13, 2018. Another pretrial hearing is set for January.
Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill in April, “Emmaleigh’s Law,” which doubled the penalties for parents, guardians or custodians convicted in the death of a child.