News

DA drops appeal of Patricia Brown’s new trial ruling, Brown now pending trial

Published December 21, 2018 8:38 PM

The Riverside County District Attorney’s office has decided to drop its appeal of a ruling to grant Patricia Brown a new trial, according to Patricia Brown’s attorney, Rodney Soda.

In March, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John G. Evans ruled that Brown, who was previously convicted in the death of her two-year-old son, would be granted a new trial.

“On behalf of Patricia Brown, we are pleased the District Attorney’s Office elected to abandon its appeal of Judge Evans’ ruling granting Mrs. Brown a new trial,” read a statement sent to News Channel 3 by Rodney Soda. “The trial court’s ruling was correct and unassailable, and I commend the District Attorney for its recognition of that fact. I am confident that should this matter be retried, Mrs. Brown will be acquitted. “

Patrica Brown will now have a new trial for the murder of Deetrick Brown, according to Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer John Hall.

“The District Attorney’s Office abandoned the appeal in this matter, which means that the parties are placed in the same position as they were prior to the taking of the appeal,” said Hall. “Prior to the appeal, the court granted Patricia Brown a new trial. Thus, Patricia Brown is now pending trial for the murder of Deetrick Brown.”

“The weight of the evidence supports the conclusion that Deetrick was not a normal, healthy child long before he came into the care of the Browns,” Judge Evans said in March.

In August 2016, Patricia Brown was convicted of second-degree murder. In April, Brown was released from jail and reunited with her family.

“I’m excited and I am blessed to be out. I really am, I feel blessed,” Patricia told News Channel 3’s Lauren Coronado moments after being released.

Patrica and her husband Derrick were first charged with murder in 2003, but following a preliminary hearing, that judge ruled that there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed to trial. Derrick was acquitted after a judge ruled there was a lack of evidence.

A decade later, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office and the Sheriff’s department re-examined the case and submitted new evidence that resulted in the refiling of charges against the Browns. They were re-arrested on Jan. 16, 2013 — 10 years to the day after the boy’s death.