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Indra Book, 19, who is facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in the Aug. 17, 2007, death of the infant, is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.
La Crosse County Circuit Judge Scott Horne is considering allowing her release on a $40,000 property bond and $10,000 cash.
It would be the first case where a property bond was accepted in La Crosse County.
Family friend George Keith Brown is willing to put his La Crosse apartment building up for collateral. Horne ordered an appraisal on the building to determine if Brown has $40,000 equity in the property.
La Crosse County Deputy Corporation Counsel David Lange approved the property bond paperwork Tuesday because the appraisal listed the value of the property at $475,000. The figure did not reflect Brown’s equity in the building.
“We haven’t done this before, and I think there was some miscommunication,” Lange said.
The accepted property bond was noted on Book’s jail bond sheet. Jail staff released her at 2:23 p.m. after her mother posted the $10,000 cash, said jail Administrator Capt. Doris Daggett.
But at Book’s 2:45 p.m. bond hearing, Horne denied her release because he didn’t find the equity in the property was sufficient and called for a more detailed appraisal. Horne said the $40,000 equity was not indicated on the property tax statements.
Book was ordered back to the jail, a move she did not expect, said public defender Vincent Rust.
“It was very hard for her,” he said.
Charges were filed against Book because she failed to provide proper care, including feedings, to the newborn in the hours following birth, prosecutors said. She then hid the body in a cooler and put the container between two garages, according to the criminal complaint.
For more on this story, see www.lacrossetribune.com or Thursday’s Tribune.
