DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Prosecutors in Daytona Beach say they've filed attempted second-degree murder and child abuse charges against a pregnant South Carolina woman who drove a minivan carrying her three small children into the Atlantic surf.
Volusia County Sheriff's deputies initially arrested 32-year-old Ebony Wilkerson on three counts each of first-degree murder and child abuse charges following the March 4 incident.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://bit.ly/1qi1UIs ) reports prosecutors wouldn't say why charges were reduced.
Public Defender James Purdy said in a statement that he plans to enter not guilty pleas at Wilkerson's arraignment Thursday. He says he believes the evidence will show Wilkerson never intended to harm the children — ages 3, 9 and 10 — or herself.
Beachgoers helped pull the screaming children and Wilkerson from the surf that day.
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Information from: Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, http://www.news-journalonline.com
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