OLIVIA -- Security concerns kept the defendant in the death of a young child out of the courtroom Monday and in the protective custody of the Renville County Jail for his formal arraignment proceedings.
Speaking by phone from the Renville County Jail, Sergio Turrubiates Jr., 20, formerly of Willmar and more recently of Olivia, deferred entering a plea to the charge of murder in the second degree - without intent.
He is charged for the Christmas Eve death of 18-month-old Tiana Moore, who died at the Children's Hospital in St. Paul of traumatic head injuries including a large fracture at the base of her skull. Turrubiates was caring for the child on Dec. 22 at the apartment of the girl's mother in Olivia when the injuries were discovered.
