Grandmother ‘killed baby’

DIVERS spent more than seven hours scouring the cold, inky waters of the Snake River, in Idaho, but failed to find the body of a toddler who authorities say was thrown into the river by her mentally ill grandmother in a murder-suicide attempt.

Kelley Jean Lodmell, 38, described by police as a transient and a paranoid schizophrenic, was charged with murder during her initial court appearance late on Tuesday from the county jail by closed-circuit television.

“We have reason to believe she intentionally jumped into the river in an attempt to commit suicide and kill the baby,” Idaho Falls Police Sergeant Steve Hunt said.