The charges against Shavonne Watkins state she caused the death of her baby girl by failing to provide proper supervision and a safe place to live.
The Romulus mother was formally charged in 34th District Court with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in the Oct. 25 death of one-year-old Malaya Tatnall.
Police say Watkins left Malaya and her three-year-old brother home alone when fire tore through their town home on Mountain Way that afternoon. The boy has since recovered and has been living with his grandmother.
Outside the courtroom, Cheryl Watkins said her daughter isn't a murderer, and that she admits she should have been home that day.
"She's lost a lot. She lost her baby girl. She lost her whole home, all her belongings, everything," Watkins said. "She does understand that there's going to be some repercussions to the fact that she left the kids at home alone, but she does not deserve any type of murder charge." Watkins paid bond Monday so Shavonne Watkins could spend Christmas with her two other children.
She is due back in court for a probable cause conference on Dec. 30. A preliminary examination is scheduled for Jan. 6.
