OGDEN, Utah, July 11, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The State of Utah will seek the death penalty for an Ogden couple accused in the death of their 3-year-old daughter in July last year, officials said.
Weber County Attorneys filed a notice in Second District Court Tuesday of their intent to seek the penalty for Miller Costello, 26, and his wife Brenda Emile, 23.
A judge has ordered the pair to stand trial on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated murder.
The couple, who are being held in Weber County Jail, are next due in court on July 19.
Costello and Emile were taken into custody on July 7, 2017, a day after first responders were called to their Ogden residence and found their daughter Angelina, already deceased and stiff, visibly malnourished, and her body covered with bruises, lacerations, open sores and burns.
The injuries were in various stages of healing, suggesting a prolonged period of abuse, according to a probable cause statement.
Evidence in the case includes cellphone photos and videos showing Angelina being taunted with food, which was then withdrawn, and showing her in various stages of deteriorating health.
Emile admitted she had applied makeup to Angelina’s body in an attempt to hide the severity of the child’s injuries, according to the statement.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.
I will be very surprised if they actually get the death penalty. Is it warranted? Absolutely. I just don’t see our judicial system standing firm. Time will tell. Sadly, there’s no time left for that precious little girl.