Theresa Hawkins-Stephens, 26, the boy's mother, and Rachel Bostian, 29, both of Licking County, are charged with murder, five counts of felony endangering children and two counts of kidnapping for the April incident that occurred while the trio was camping in Middletown along with Alexander and his brother.
Ramona Bostian gave false information to authorities about what happened to Alexander Stephens, according to prosecutors.
Rachel Bostian, Ramona’s daughter, is represented by David Washington, and is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 12. She is being held on $1 million bond. Washington filed a motion to suppress statements Rachel Bostian made to police. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 5.
A week-long trial for Hawkins-Stephens, is scheduled to begin Sept. 19. She is represented by Chris Frederick and is also being held on $1 million bond. Frederick also told the judge he intended to file a motion to suppress statements his client made to police. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 12.
Rachel Bostian and Hawkins-Stephens are accused of tying up Alexander for about 22 hours on April 26 and, according to police, "severely" beating the boy on his head and body.
Police said Alexander’s brother, 6-year-old Damyan, was also injured in the attacks, but his injuries were not life-threatening and he is recovering.
The Stephens boys were sleeping in a tent near the Great Miami River with their mother and her two friends, who told police they came to the area looking for work.
According to court documents, the two boys were tied up with blankets for “stealing food.”
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