A judge on Friday refused to lower the $2 million bond for Rachel Leonard, a Cortez woman charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 5-year-old daughter, citing the seriousness of the charge and the volume of evidence still under review.
Chief Judge Todd Plewe of the 22nd Judicial District said it was too soon to reconsider the bond.
Deputy Public Defender Benjamin Currier said his team recently received 3,000 pages of discovery, including grand jury transcripts, and had not yet reviewed them. He requested additional time before entering a plea on Leonard’s behalf.
Prosecutors allege Leonard, 38, intentionally caused the death of her daughter, Annika Sandoval, in March 2022.
According to an August grand jury indictment, Leonard’s phone showed Google searches in the days before the child’s death for “How long does it take to suffocate” and “Will 150 500 mg of Tylenol P.M. overdose?”
State forensic evidence shows Leonard’s phone was used to search an online forum detailing how many minutes it takes to suffocate someone with a pillow.
Prosecutors say first responders found Leonard incoherent, with vomit on her and the bed. Paramedics pronounced Annika dead at the scene, and lab tests later found acetaminophen in the vomit.
Currier said the defense would “likely enter a not-guilty plea” but requested four to six weeks to review the discovery and consult medical experts, citing the “complex medical nature” of the case.
“We are fresh into this case, and the government has worked on this for years,” Currier said, adding that the defense had just received the state’s evidence that morning.
An autopsy listed the child’s cause of death as “undetermined” but noted that mild brain swelling can be associated with possible causes, including suffocation, overdose or trauma. However, none was identified as the specific cause of death.
In the report, Montezuma County Coroner George Deavers wrote there were no signs of suffocation. He added, “if a person is unconscious or passed out, someone could put a pillow over their face and there would be no signs of suffocation, except some cerebral edema,” which means brain swelling.
Currier said Leonard remains steadfast in her innocence and intends to prove it in court.
District Attorney Jeremy Reed said technical issues delayed the transfer of files but noted prosecutors have been working to share the “tremendous amount of discovery” in the case.
Plewe agreed to postpone the plea and set the next plea hearing for Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. Plewe said the court must keep the case “moving meaningfully toward resolution” but acknowledged the case is still in its early stages.
Currier asked the court to reduce Leonard’s bond, calling it “essentially a no-bond order” that her parents cannot afford. He said Leonard has minimal criminal history, strong family ties in Cortez, and is not a flight risk.
Two relatives — her mother, Zada Leonard, and older sister, Amanda Bratten — testified to Leonard’s character, describing her as caring, community-minded and deeply affected by grief since her daughter’s death.
Reed opposed the reduction, arguing Leonard would return to the same home where the alleged crime occurred and would be living with potential key witnesses. He said the bond is consistent with Colorado law, given the seriousness of a first-degree murder charge.
“I’m not asking for no bond but a high bond. I believe this is an appropriate high bond,” Reed said.
Brian Sandoval, the child’s father, supported keeping the $2 million bond, saying he has “been fighting for justice since the beginning” for his daughter.
Plewe denied the defense’s motion, saying it would be premature to reconsider the bond before reviewing the evidence. “It’s difficult to ask a judge to make a decision based on what I haven’t seen,” he said.
Leonard remains in custody at the Montezuma County Detention Center. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 5, when she is expected to enter a plea.
