Mother, pregnant again, pleads not-guilty in death of infant

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Story Created: Jul 2, 2009 at 4:27 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 5:40 PM EST

FLOYD, N.Y. (WKTV) - On a rainy Thursday afternoon, LeeAnn Wimmers appeared in Town of Floyd Court, where she answered murder charges in the death of her infant daughter last April.

Wimmers, with a butterfly tattoo reading "Mama's Angel" across her neck, and pregnant again, was flown into Syracuse International Airport Thursday afternoon, with authorities at her side escorting her back to the region where the alleged incident took place more than a year prior.

Arriving in Syracuse shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday, she made her way, with escorts nearby, from Syracuse to the Floyd Court Complex. Many wondered why the Floyd Court was chosen as the spot for the arraignment. The Oneida County District Attorney's Office said the site was chosen after questioning various courts in the area as to who was open for court proceedings Thursday afternoon, as smaller courts are not open every day.

Arriving in court amid the myriad of reporters, Wimmers pleaded not guilty to the murder charges she faces in the death of her infant daughter last April when Wimmers lived on Fineview Drive with the baby's father.

Authorities say the death of her daughter, Daniella Sapienza was ruled suspicious. According to relatives, after the baby's death, she was not only thrown out of the house, but later confessed to the crime.

Just last month, Wimmers, who at that point was living in Asheville, North Carolina, waived her extradition rights. With that, Oneida County Sheriff's Deputies flew to Asheville to bring her back. That process took about 10 days.

Wimmers will have a public defender - Frank Nebush - and the case will now go before a grand jury.

She will be back in Floyd Town Court on July 10, and is being held without bail.

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