Young trial moved to July

The trial for a Portland woman who faces charges related to her son’s death has been moved.

Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison on Thursday moved the trial start date for Jennifer F. Young, 35, Portland, to July 12. It had been scheduled to begin April 29.

Young is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. She also faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

A separate trial for Ryan Markle on the same charges is scheduled to begin May 17.

Hayden Markle, the 3-month-old son of Ryan Markle and Young, died March 6. An autopsy determined acute methamphetamine intoxication to be his cause of death.

Portland police and Jay Emergency Medical Service were called March 6 to an upstairs apartment at 221 S. Meridian St., Portland, where a 3-month-old child was not breathing. Hayden Markle was then transported to IU Health Jay, where he was later pronounced dead.

Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Child Services, Jay County Coroner’s Office and Jay County Prosecutor’s Office investigated the boy’s death, resulting in the April 15 arrests of Young and Ryan Markle.

In Indiana, Level 1 felony charges carry a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

The Young and Markle proceedings are part of a list of high-profile cases scheduled for this year in Jay Superior Court.

Shelby Hiestand, 19, rural Portland, and Hannah Knapke, 20, Fort Recovery, are scheduled for trials for the January 2020 murder of Shea Briar in August and November, respectively. Esther J. Stephen, 30, was found guilty of Briar’s murder last month. Roger Boyd, 35, Portland, is slated to stand trial Oct. 11 through 15 for the Sept. 5 murder of James P. Miller, Montpelier, and Cory Jones, 44, Redkey, is scheduled for a trial Oct. 25 through 29 for the Aug. 22 murder of Shanna Jones, Dunkirk.