Woman charged with girl’s murder may be released
Raine Austria took a deal and pled to 2 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment
MADRAS, Ore. (KOIN) – A woman once charged with murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with the death of a one-year-old girl will likely be released from jail after taking a plea deal.
Raine J. Austria pled guilty on Wednesday to 2 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail, but since her arrest, she has already served 171 days. Based on her good behavior and credit for time served, Austria is expected to be released from the county jail sooner than later, according to deputy district attorney Brentley Steele Foster.
Austria will remain supervised probation for three years. According to Foster, Austria must complete an evaluation and any recommended mental health and drug and alcohol treatment program.
Prior to Wednesday’s plea agreement, Austria had been charged with one count each of murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree criminal mistreatment and 3 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.
Foster said the 2 counts Austria pled to represents both children who were under her care. Aside from the 2 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, all of the other charges were dismissed.
Foster said because Garry Vineyard, Austria’s co-defendant, is still pending trial, she was unable to explain the specific details of how and why the plea deal was reached. The prosecutor did confirm that there is no cooperation in place, but Austria is prohibited from communicating with Vineyard while his case is pending.
According to court documents, on March 30, 2015, shortly before noon, Austria’s then fiancée, and now husband, Vineyard, called 911 to report he went into Austria’s children’s bedroom and found Katernia Austria not breathing and her body purple and cold.
Vineyard is not the biological father to either girl.
Paramedics arrived, but it “was obvious that Katerina had been deceased for some time and no medical interventions were undertaken,” according to court documents.
The entire house “was described as disgustingly dirty with an overwhelming smell of garbage, feces on the floor and garbage overflowing.”
Katerina’s body, records show, had multiple facial bruises and burn marks to her fingertips. Austria told investigators that the burn marks came from the radiator.
“In addition to the tragic death of Katerina on the evening between March 29, 2015 and March 30, 2015, there was a long history of neglect and abuse of both young girls between March 2014 and March 30, 2015,” court documents state.
Records also show that Austria has given birth to five children, none of whom are in her care or custody.
Based on court documents, it appears that prosecutors are narrowing their focus on Vineyard. They have evidence that will show he has an “extensive” history with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for “a chronically dirty home, possible domestic violence and injuries to a child.” Other witnesses are expected to testify about a “pattern of unsanitary and foul smelling home with domestic violence perpetuated in front of the children.” Witnesses will also describe the “lack of care provided to” Katerina’s sister.
Vineyard is scheduled to go to trial in August.
Crime
