Oregon woman accused of killing grandmother pleads not guilty

BEND, Ore. — An Oregon woman charged with murder in the death of her grandmother on New Year’s Eve has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Angela Judd of Bend smothered Nada Bodholdt, 92, with a pillow in the nursing home where the grandmother was living.

Bodholdt was initially thought to have died of natural causes. The possibility of foul play only arose when Judd allegedly made a statement to her social worker.

The Bulletin newspaper reported that defense attorney Shaun McCrea argued Monday that Judd’s communications with the social worker were privileged and there was insufficient physical evidence to meet the legal threshold to hold Judd without bail before her trial.

Judge Beth Bagley, however, denied pre-trial release. Judd’s trial is scheduled to begin in July.