Bail Set For Couple Accused Of Killing 10-Year-Old Girl [UPDATE]

Bail is set at $500,000 for a Stockton Springs couple accused of torturing and killing the woman's 10-year-old daughter.

Sharon and Julio Carillo made their first court appearance on Wednesday, charged with depraved indifference murder, for the death of Sharon's daughter, Marissa Kennedy. The State Medical Examiner determined that she died from battered child syndrome, with injuries that indicated months of abuse.

WABI-TV reports that, according to court documents, the Carrillo's had whipped the child with a leather belt, locked her in a closet for hours on end, and beat her until she was unresponsive. On Sunday, when Marissa died, the couple allegedly staged an 'accident,' making it look like she had fallen down the stairs before calling 911.

Julio and Sharon have hired separate attorneys, with Chris MacLean, who's working for Sharon, alleging that she was also a victim. Julio's attorney says he knows the man has learning disabilities, but hadn't really learned much more than that. Mental health evaluations are expected before the case goes to trial.

Neighbors of the couple, when they lived in Bangor, told WABI that they witnessed some abuse, including a hard slap to the tiny girl from Julio, because she had dropped something. They said police had visited the apartment, after neighbors reported hearing screaming. Police were also called in June of last year, after a child had run away. There were two other children, ages 1 and 2, at the Stockton Springs condo when Marissa died. They have been placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bangor Police released the following statement today, by media release:

"Once we became aware of ten-year-old Marissa Kennedy's tragic death, and that she and her family had previously lived in Bangor, we searched our data for any involvement that may prove useful for investigators. We learned we, in fact, did have contact with the Carrillo family at their Main Street residence. Officers did not observe injury or behavior suggesting that Marissa or her siblings were in a dangerous or unhealthy environment. We, like all who have become aware of Marissa's death, are heartbroken. Please know that any suggestion that officers had information or knowledge that Marissa or her siblings were in an abusive situation, and did not act, is simply inaccurate. We will continue to review this matter and provide all relevant date to the Office of the Attorney General."