
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995                   TAG: 9510260058
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

SLAYING, CHILD ABUSE CHARGES CERTIFIED IN DEATH OF TODDLER

The case against a man charged with killing his girlfriend's 2 1/2-year-old son in August has been certified to a Carroll County grand jury. A felony child abuse charge was certified against the child's mother.

Steven Wayne "Bones" Cole, 19, told police in a statement that he shoved the child against a wall after Cole had ingested crystal methamphetamine and marijuana. A first-degree murder charge was certified Tuesday to a Dec. 4 grand jury.

A felony child abuse and neglect charge against the mother, LaDonna Jean Blevins, 22, also was certified by Judge J.L. Tompkins in Carroll County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

The child's grandfather was heard saying "hallelujah" in the courtroom as the judge ruled.

Joshua Charles Walker Blevins was found dead by his mother on Aug. 27 at 4:54 p.m. Officials speculated that the child had been dead for about 12 hours before rescue workers arrived.

by CNB