Peltier trial begins

GLENWOOD - The murder trial for Amanda Peltier is scheduled to begin this morning in Pope County District Court in Glenwood.
A grand jury indicted Peltier, 32, of Starbuck, on a charge of first-degree murder while committing child abuse with a past pattern of child abuse in the Feb. 26, 2013, death of 4-year-old Eric Parker Dean. She also faces a charge of second-degree murder, without intent, while committing a felony.
Jury selection in the case began May 7, and 70 residents were in the pool of prospective jurors.
Peltier was caring for the 4-year-old child in her home in Starbuck on Feb. 25, 2013, when she allegedly became upset with him, according to the criminal complaint. It alleges that she “launched” him across a room.
He was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital that evening and died there early the next morning.
Eric Dean is the son of Sommar Kemp of Glenwood and David Dean of Starbuck.
David Dean was Peltier’s live-in fiancé at the time.