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Mother Of 2-Year-Old Found Dead In Ravine Headed To Trial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The mother of a 2-year-old girl found dead in a ravine June 14 will go to trial on charges she killed the girl after becoming angry about helping the toddler clean herself after using the toilet.

"The Commonwealth, I believe, has an extraordinary burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Adriene Williams killed her daughter," said Williams' attorney Milton Raiford.

The body of 3-year-old Adrionna Williams was found June 14 by a woman walking her dog near a wooded area in Swissvale.

That woman testified Friday at the preliminary hearing for Williams.

The prosecution claims the 26-year-old from Wilkinsburg suffocated her daughter because the girl needed help cleaning herself after using the bathroom.

"She pled not guilty; she continues to plead not guilty," said Raiford.

A relative of Williams also testified, as well as three Allegheny County homicide detectives, but Raiford says the evidence presented was stretched and speculative.

That evidence included things like colored paper clips found near the body that were similar to those found in Williams' car. Also, Williams was spotted on camera heading in the direction of Swissvale where the child's body was found.

"They can't place my client at the scene of where the body was found" said Raiford. "Even in those videos of the car, they didn't see her in the car with her. None of the cameras on the street caught my client in the car with her daughter on the way to anyplace in Swissvale."

Raiford even gave the name and phone number of an Edward Hawthorne who he says called Williams asking her to meet him in Swissvale.

He told reporters more about him will come out at the murder trial.

"It's apparent to me, and it will come out in the trial," he said. "There is more here than what meets the eye."

The charges of endangering the welfare of a child and failing to provide medical aid were dismissed, but Williams still faces the charge of homicide.

She is back at the Allegheny County Jail in the mental health ward.

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(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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