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.

“We don’t believe the baby going into the water was an accident.”

Divers planned to resume the search for 19-month-old Acacia Patience Bishop yesterday morning.

Dogs and rescue workers patrolled the banks trying to pick up the child’s tracks, while boats searched a couple of miles downriver.

Baby shoes, a doll and one of the woman’s shoes were found on the platform where Lodmell said she and the child fell in while dangling their feet in the water, police say. The woman’s other shoe was found in the river. Poor visibility in the murky water hampered divers’ efforts.

“Visibility is between two feet and sometimes zero. What they’re doing is hand work. It’s difficult and time-consuming,” Bonneville County sheriff’s Captain Paul Wilde said. “It’s an emotional drain on them. They’re doing the best they can do.” Police say Lodmell took Acacia from her great-grandparents’ home in Salt Lake County, Utah, on Sunday evening, and an alert was issued on Monday.

Magistrate L Mark Riddoch ordered Lodmell held without bond at least until her June 10 preliminary hearing.