Grandfather of slain 2-year-old ordered to appear at daughter's trial

The grandfather of a 2-year-old boy killed in 2017 was ordered today to appear at the June trial of the child's mother, who is charged with felony neglect. 

Gregory Unverzagt had refused to testify at the trial in March of Mitchell Vanryn, who was convicted of aggravated battery and domestic battery in the Nov. 29, 2017, beating death of Malakai Garrett. Jurors acquitted Vanryn of murder in the case. 

A five-day trial for Amber Garrett, 27, is scheduled June 24. 

Unverzagt, Garrett's father, said in court this morning he saw bruises in the shape of a handprint on Malakai's buttocks before the boy was killed.

mleblanc@jg.net