Trial date of local pediatrician charged with first-degree murder changed

Trial date of local pediatrician charged with first-degree murder changed; Dr. Deborah Mark trial now set to begin Nov. 28, 2011
By: LAURIE EVERETT/Managing Editor
Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:11 am
Mt Juliet News.

May 25, 2011 - The May 31 trial date that was set in the cases of Lebanon pediatrician Dr. Deborah Mark charged with first-degree murder of her adopted daughter, and her husband, Steven Mark, charged with multiple counts of child abuse, has been changed.

According to Assistant District Attorney Tom Swink, the Deborah Mark case was set for trial May 31 and June 1 through June 3, however, the trial was "continued" by agreement.

"They will be tried separately and Mrs. Mark's date is now set for Nov. 28, 2011," said Swink. "We have four days set aside."

He said if for some reason Deborah Mark's trial "doesn't go," her husband's trial is set as a backup. He said he had no reason to believe Deborah Mark's trial won't "go." At this time, Steven Mark's trial is set for some time in 2012, according to Swink.

Mt. Juliet detectives described this as the "worse case of child abuse" they've ever seen.

Lead Det. Bonnie Harris and Det. David Stolinsky presented overwhelming evidence to the Wilson County Grand Jury on this case of alleged child abuse.

During a September press conference held at Mt. Juliet City Hall, Det. Harris described the alleged abuse as "substantial."

"There was bruising from head to toe," she said.

She said the child arrived from China about 100 days before the alleged abuse and the Marks had "custody." She noted they believed the abuse "occurred" over time and most likely started about the time the little girl came to live with the Marks at their residence in the Autumn Ridge Subdivision in Mt. Juliet. FULL STORY

I have been following this story since it began almost a year ago.