THE ATTORNEY FOR THE WOMAN CHARGED IN THE 1999 DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF A 4 YEAR OLD GIRL HAS ASKED FOR A HEARING TO HAVE THE CHARGES DISMISSED. ATTORNEY ROBERT BARRAR SAYS THAT 33 YEAR OLD MELISSA HARDING-JONES, FORMERLY MELISSA COOPER, CANNOT BE CHARGED UNDER GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE STATE WHICH SAYS THE FOUR-YEAR TIME FRAME TO PURSUE THE CHARGES RAN OUT IN 2003. JONES WAS EXTRADITED TO CHARLOTTE COUNTY FROM EVERETT WASHINGTON IN AUGUST AND FACES AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN PILAR RODRIGUEZ’S APPARENT DEATH. THE LITTLE GIRL DISAPPEARED WHILE ON VACATION IN 1999 WHILE ON A TRIP WITH JONES AND HER BOYFRIEND KEITH WILSON. SAMANTHA SYOEN WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TOLD THE HERALD TRIBUNE THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT IN THEIR POSITION THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN THIS DEATH CASE, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DECIDED BY THE COURT. A HEARING ON THE MOTION IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 6TH.
