The couple accused of murdering their 5-year-old daughter have pleaded not guilty
A Nevada couple pleaded guilty this week to the systematic abuse and murder of their 5-year-old daughter. Us Weekly you confirmed.
Andrea again Nicholas Lovingaged 30, appeared in court on Wednesday, March 11, and pleaded not guilty to murder.
The couple also waived their right to a speedy trial, meaning the case could go to trial as soon as August 2027.
The Lovings are accused of torturing and killing their daughter, Isabella.
The girl died of bacterial pneumonia, malnutrition, medical neglect and blunt force trauma, according to an autopsy.
Medical examiners determined that the girl died of homicide.
The girl was found dead in Lovings’ Cold Springs home in April 2025.
Public defenders representing Lovings this week said their clients should not appear in court wearing reprints and prison jumpsuits, because that could make them look guilty.
In court filings ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, lawyers asked that the couple be allowed to wear casual clothing to court.
Deputy District Attorney Nathan MacLellanaccording to court records, they opposed both motions.
“The defendant’s right to dress casually applies only during the trial,” read a motion filed ahead of Wednesday’s hearing. “Furthermore, the court finds that the defendants’ due process rights and access to a fair and impartial trial will not be adversely affected by wearing prison garb during the trial.”
A criminal complaint filed after Lovings’ arrest alleges that Nicholas killed Izabella by “beating and/or kicking and/or dragging and/or whipping and/or otherwise striking the victim and/or pushing the victim’s head against a wall.”
Andrea, according to the complaint, allegedly aided and abetted Nicholas in the abuse, even helping him to “conceal and/or cover up” some of Isabella’s injuries before she went public.
Prosecutors also said he ordered their other two children to lie to the police saying that Isabella’s injuries were caused by another young child in the house.
Andrea is also said to have failed to provide Izabella with healthy food, “just feeding her a piece of bread to get her daily food.”
As Izabella continued to wither, Andrea’s alleged Google search history showed searches related to the little girl’s symptoms.
He also looked up “signs that my child is dying,” “black blood comes out of the stool when it comes out,” “how long can you go without eating,” “kidneys are not working,” and “my five-year-old is urinating blood” on his phone, and after seeing the results, he did not seek treatment from him, investigators said.
Speaking to police months after their arrest, Andrea denied ever hitting Isabella, but said Nicholas hit the girl “more times than she could count,” according to court documents.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
