[Watch live streaming coverage of the trial in the player above when court is in session.]
The murder trial of Brad Fields is taking place in a Michigan courtroom. Fields is facing several charges, including second-degree murder and felony murder, for the death of four-year-old Gabby Barrett. Barrett, the daughter of Fields’ girlfriend Candice Diaz, was found dead on January 1, 2018.
Diaz told police she found the child in the bathtub. Authorities said they found her on the bathroom floor, unresponsive, before she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators have pointed to messages between Fields and Diaz the detail alleged abuse that they inflicted on the child, supposedly as punishment for wetting herself. The alleged punishments include cold baths, striking the child in the mouth, and making her sleep on the floor of a mobile home in her underwear.
The couple tried to flee to Florida after Gabby died, but they were spotted and apprehended in Georgia after authorities searched for them for a week. Both are now facing charges. A judge determined that they are both competent to stand trial after they were evaluated. Diaz will stand trial separately at a future date.
Fields also faces child abuse and torture charges.
Judge Vonda Evans is presiding over the trial. Judge Evans came under fire earlier this year after being accused of submitting false attendance records and leaving work early. She denied the allegations against her.