Idaho woman whose 8-year-old granddaughter was found dead in trash bag pleads guilty to related charges

EMMETT, Idaho (TCD) -- A 54-year-old woman whose young granddaughter was found dead in a trash bag last year pleaded guilty to related charges.

According to the Emmett Messenger Index, Connie Smith pleaded guilty to felony injury of a child and felony failure to notify of a death on Feb. 16. She initially pleaded not guilty but switched after a mediation. She faces up to 20 years in prison.

Taryn Summers' body was found April 14, 2021, in a trash bag inside of a parked car. Smith reported the 8-year-old Summers missing two days prior.

Court documents cited by KBOI-TV say around the time she went missing, Summers defecated on the carpet and used her hands to rub it in the fabric. Summers was reportedly supposed to stay in her room as punishment, but the girl was later found in the back seat of a black Lexus on the floorboards. An autopsy reportedly showed the 8-year-old had vomit in her hair and on her clothing.

Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for April 8, according to KTVB-TV. She remains in custody at the Gem County Jail.

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