COLDWATER - All four suspects in a plot to kidnap, rape and kill a child have been arraigned in Branch County District Court.
Matthew Toole, 32, of Battle Creek and his girlfriend, Talia Furman, 32, of Springfield, appeared Tuesday afternoon before District Judge Brent Weigle by closed circuit video from the Calhoun County jail.
Both were read charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit criminal sexual conduct issued last week by the office of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Bond was set at $5 million for each and preliminary examinations were scheduled for Oct. 11.
Two other suspects, David Bailey, 37, of Coldwater and Jayme LaPointe, 19, of Athens, were arraigned Sunday and Monday, respectively. They each are being held on $5 million bond and are scheduled for their preliminary examinations on Oct. 11.
All four were charged after investigators from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit uncovered texts and chats on their phones and computers about a plan to kidnap, torture, rape and kill a young child.
Detective Sgt. Gerald Yott said the group considered taking a child from a county fair or the parking lot of a Walmart or Meijer Inc. store.
Yott said they considered the probability of cameras at the stores and also discussed the best methods of destroying the evidence and disposing of the body.
However, Yott said last week and again this week that police have no evidence that the group actually carried out the plot.
All four of the suspects already were charged with sexual assault and child abuse after police said they assaulted some of their own children while making pornographic videos.
All are awaiting further proceedings in those cases. Both Toole and Furman are scheduled to appear in Calhoun County District Court for a preliminary examination on those charges on Monday.
Cases against Bailey and LaPointe are in Branch County District Court.
Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson
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