Judge Bradley Owens postponed Ephreana Brady's preliminary hearing in the death of her 2-year-old.

Wednesday's hearing did not happen because the forensic work the defense requested in September is still open. Brady has pleaded not guilty, and her bond remains $2 million. The police account of a gunshot wound and a handgun on the porch is the allegation that has to be tested, and Owens said the Jan. 6 date can move up if the exam is done sooner.

Ephreana Brady appeared Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Gibson County General Sessions Court for a preliminary hearing on first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, WBBJ reported. The charges concern the Aug. 27 death of her 2-year-old in Humboldt. Judge Bradley Owens postponed the hearing because a forensic examination of the evidence is not finished. He set the next date for Jan. 6, 2027, and said it could be moved up if that exam is completed sooner, WBBJ reported.

Police responded Aug. 27 to a home in Humboldt and found Brady on the front porch holding the unresponsive child, who had a gunshot wound, WBBJ reported. Police said she was also holding a handgun to her own head. The child was taken to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and later died, WBBJ reported. Those details are the police account of what officers found. They are not a finding about how the gun fired.

At a Sept. 2 arraignment, Brady, who is 27, appeared by video and pleaded not guilty, WBBJ reported. Judge Owens said, "For the record, Ms. Brady will be entering a not guilty plea. She has waived the formal reading of the criminal charges that have been brought against her." Her lawyer, Scott Rich, asked the court to authorize forensic testing, and Owens granted it, WBBJ reported. Owens also said her bond will remain at $2 million. The Wednesday postponement is the court waiting on that testing. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.