Quick but surprising update today on a very recent case…

A trial date has already been set for 37-year-old Anthony Dibiah, the Indianapolis father accused of suffocating his ten-year-old son, Nakota Kelly, on July 18, 2020 before likely dismembering him in the bathroom of Anthony’s apartment and disposing of his son’s body.

Almost a month later, Nakota’s remains have still not been found, but the crime scene in Anthony’s apartment led Indianapolis police to charge the man with felony murder in the probable death of his son.

This case was all over the news when it first broke a few weeks ago due to reports that Nakota said to his mother on July 14, “My dad is going to kill me.”

I didn’t expect an update this soon, but the Chronicle-Tribune put together a timeline of recent developments in the legal case against Anthony Dibiah, including the scheduling of his criminal trial before the end of this year. Apparently, this case is being fast-tracked, because I’ve never seen a case move this quickly.

• Monday, July 20: Anthony Dibiah was arrested in Missouri after fleeing the state of Indiana in his white 2017 Jeep Patriot. He was wanted in the disappearance and death of Nakota after reportedly confessing by telephone to a cousin on July 18 and a friend on July 19 that he had killed his son. 
• Sunday, August 2: Anthony was moved from the Macon County Jail in Missouri to the Marion County Jail in Indiana.
• Monday, August 3: Anthony was ordered held without bond.
• Tuesday, August 4: Marion County Superior Court Judge Shatrese M. Flowers ordered Anthony to submit to a forensic buccal swab (cheek swab). She also set the date for his jury trial to begin at 9:00 AM on Monday, November 23.
• Wednesday, August 5: At Anthony’s initial hearing, Judge Flowers swore in the defendant and read the charges against him. Due to indigence, he was appointed a public defender, Brian Lamar. Judge Flowers also granted a no-contact order, although it is not specified to whom this order was granted. I would guess the protected party is Nakota’s mother, Hayley, but that’s just speculation on my part.
• Thursday, August 6: The state gave notice of discovery compliance.

The next court date scheduled in this case is Anthony Dibiah’s pretrial conference on Thursday, November 5, also before Judge Flowers.

Reportedly, Nakota’s mom, Hayley Kelly, has been hospitalized twice since her son’s disappearance. By all accounts, she is utterly devastated by her son’s death, which is totally understandable, especially considering everything she went through for years trying to prevent unsupervised visitation between Nakota and his father due to alleged abuse. My heart goes out to her, and I hope both she and her daughter, Nakota’s 13-year-old half-sister, can find peace, and that Nakota’s remains can be found to bring them closure. 

Click here for my ongoing coverage of Nakota’s case.

Sources: The Chronicle-Tribune, Facebook