Judge considering motions to reduce bond and dismiss the case against Quatavia Givens

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cole County judge is considering motions to reduce bond and dismiss the case against Quatavia Givens.

Givens is accused of killing 4-year-old Darnell Gray in Oct. 2018.

Givens is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a child, endangering a child and abandonment of a corpse. Givens was previously charged with second-degree murder however a Cole County prosecutor upgraded the charge in August 2021.

The defense said Givens is at a very low risk of harming anyone while out, she previously lived with her family in the St. Louis area during her previous release from jail in 2019.

The defense also wants the case tossed because the state provided no new evidence to justify the upgraded charge of first-degree murder.

The Judge did grant a defense motion to bar anyone in the court audience from wearing any shirts or buttons expressing support for Darnell Gray.

Court documents say that Givens allegedly struck and smothered Gray, resulting in his death. Givens initially told police Gray wandered away or was taken, according to court documents.