Aurora – The woman accused of stabbing her 21-month-old granddaughter to death over the weekend appeared in court Monday, handcuffed and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit.
Carol Lynn Pappas, 52, didn’t speak as she was advised of the murder charges she faces in the death of Madison Pappas.
Police say Pappas answered the door at 17553 E. Lasalle Drive on Saturday with bloody hands. She then made statements that led police to believe she was the only one in the house with the child when the crime happened.
In court Monday, Judge William Sylvester imposed a gag order in the case and sealed all documents. The defense attorney, Jim O’Connor, said releasing the documents could jeopardize his client’s case and force a change of venue.
However, reporter Tyler Lopez, of Denver’s KMGH-Channel 7 television station, obtained the affidavit before it was sealed. Ordered to surrender it, Lopez returned the affidavit. Byron Grandy, news director at KMGH, said the station decided not to use the information in it on Monday. But he said the station was still discussing the matter with an attorney.
Meanwhile, friends continued to grapple with the child’s death and her grandmother’s arrest.
“This is a tragedy,” said Joan Powers, who was a friend of Pappas and her ex-husband. “There is no explanation. I’ve seen (Carol) with her grandchildren. My experience with Carol is she was a lovely person and a wonderful grandmother.”
Court records show Carol Lynn Pappas was arrested in July 1990 in Colorado Springs in a theft case, in which she pleaded guilty to two charges, was placed on probation and ordered to pay back $14,680.
In 1999, she was divorced from Lou Pappas, who lives in a gated community near Manitou Springs. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Recent court records show Carol Lynn Pappas failed to pay three months of rent at a Colorado Springs apartment and was evicted in May. She then apparently moved in with her son, Nick, and his wife, Jessica, and their young daughter, Madison. Police say another person also may have lived at the house.
Carol Lynn Pappas is being held without bail at Arapahoe County Jail and will be formally charged in a hearing at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
