While the proceeding before Judge Teresa Robinson Freeman was not specifically about the death penalty in the case, but a bond hearing for one of the four charged — Semaj Short — Halifax County Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner did say it would be the state's intention to announce capital proceedings for three of the four.

He did not specify which ones and declined comment afterward. The declaration is expected next month.

Meanwhile, Short was ordered by Freeman to remain in jail on $1 million bond, his bond being the focus of the hearing.

Robinson noted during the proceeding that Short has been sitting in jail for four months without a DA's report indicating why he was charged in the 2-year-old's death as well as the shooting of her grandmother, Catherine Price, on Cedar Street in Weldon. “I need evidence as to why he's been in jail for four months.”

The reasons why he was being held were not discussed in open court, but instead in chambers with Freeman, State Bureau of Investigation agents, Captain James Avens of the Weldon Police Department, Werner and Short's attorney, Jamal Summey.

At the end of that session, Freeman announced in open court, “The state produced orally the evidence it has and shows the strength of its case.”

While Robinson believed the evidence should have been produced three weeks ago, she said, “One-million dollar bond is sufficient based on the evidence.”