A Twentynine Palms woman pleaded not guilty in Joshua Tree Superior Court Monday afternoon to murdering her 3-month old baby. On September 1, 2015, Morongo Basin Sheriff’s deputies were called to the base hospital on board the Combat Center in Twentynine Palms for a case of possible child abuse. The baby, James Russell, was flown to Loma Linda Medical Center where he died three days later. His mother, Kaylee Ledford Russell, 27, who lived on base in the 2000 block of Bullion Drive, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, July 28, for investigation of assaulting a child causing great bodily injury or death, and murder. Kaylee Ledford Russell is being held on $1 million bail. Her next court appearance is August 10.
