Guide Note

Ohio mother China Arnold has been convicted of killing her one-month-old daughter, Paris Talley, in a microwave oven in 2005. Arnold has been found guilty of aggravated murder, a charge that could potentially bring with it a death sentence. Talley had died after suffering internal burns.¹

Fast Facts

1. Age: 28 (in 2008)
2. Resides in: Dayton, Ohio
3. Allegedly put newborn Paris Talley in a microwave oven¹
4. Pleaded not guilty to charges
5. Prosecution and defense under gag order not to speak to press about the case
6. Faces death penalty if found guilty
7. Death occurred on August 30, 2005
8. Bail originally set for $1 million
9. Mistrial declared February 11, 2008
10. Second trial began August 11, 2008
11. On August 15, 2008, Arnold's attorney, Jon Paul Rion, told jurors, someone else put the baby in the microwave²

The retrial of China Arnold began with jury selection on August 11, 2008. The initial case against Arnold was declared a mistrial in February 2008, after new witnesses for the defense, an eight-year-old neighbor, came forward.