Murder charges filed against couple accused of killing 8-week-old

Murder charges were filed today against a 19-year-oldwoman and her 22-year-old boyfriend, who are accused in the killing of thewoman’s 8-week-old daughter in Palm Desert.

Sarah Catherine Connor and Joseph Eugene Champion, both of Palm Desert,are each charged with murder and assaulting a child, causing great bodilyinjury. Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignment this afternoon at theLarson Justice Center in Indio.

The public defender’s office was appointed to represent both defendants,who are due back in court on June 10.

The two were arrested Wednesday, the same day the infant succumbed towhat investigators said were several traumatic injuries, said Riverside Countysheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Buompensiero.

The baby was not breathing when deputies responded to a juvenile medicalaid call in the 73000 block of Pinyon Street about 6:15 a.m. May 24.

The infant was initially taken to Eisenhower Medical Center in RanchoMirage and later transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center,Buompensiero said.

Bail was set at $1 million for Connor, who is also accused of violatingher probation for misdemeanor forgery and fraud, to which she pleaded guiltylast year, according to court records.

Champion was jailed without bail, according to jail records.