Deborah MarkLEBANON, Tenn. – A Wilson County pediatrician and her husband charged in connection to the death of their young daughter pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday.
Deborah Mark, 39, was arrested earlier this month and charged with first degree murder and several counts of child abuse after her four-year-old daughter, Kairissa, was found unresponsive and later died.
The child's father and Mark's husband, 47-year-old Steven Mark, is also charged with child abuse in the case.
Both entered pleas of not guilty on all charges on Thursday.
"Certainly they wanted to be here today to stand up and enter their pleas of not guilty which they've done," said Jack Lowry, Jr., Deborah Mark's attorney. "They are going to continue to take it day by day. One of the things that has helped them tremendously is they have quite a lot of support from the community and their church, those people have been valuable to them in times of need."
The Marks are out of jail on bond.
The couple has an eight-year-old, who is in state custody.
Last week, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners voted to suspend Deborah Mark's license
To get her license reinstated in the future, she would have to go in front of the board.
Previous Stories:
- July 20, 2010: Pediatrician's license suspended following daughter's death
- July 12, 2010: Doctor, husband charged after daughter, 4, dies
- July 5, 2010: Girl, 4, in child abuse case dies from injuries
- July 1, 2010: Mt. Juliet girl, 4, in critical condition, police suspect abuse
