DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman issued a bench warrant on Nov. 21 for a homicide defendant that he previously allowed to access an inpatient treatment program for substance abuse.
Christen Borden, 36, is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children with grave risk for her alleged involvement in the death of her five-month-old son, Kenneth Walton, on Feb. 11, 2023 on the 4000 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Walton died from multiple blunt force injuries.
On July 3, Judge Edelman granted Borden’s move from an inpatient drug treatment program to an outpatient program.
At the hearing, Judge Edelman stated that he had been notified that following Borden’s transfer from the DC Jail to begin outpatient treatment on Sept. 24, Borden checked herself out the same day.
Borden allegedly told her Pretrial Services Agency Officer (PSAO) that she wished to check herself into another facility to begin treatment, although she has since been considered a loss of contact, according to Judge Edelman.
Borden’s defense attorneys, Megan Allburn and Steven Kiersh, said that they had spoken to Borden within 24 hours of the hearing, and that she was currently undergoing detox in an outpatient facility.
The prosecution requested a bench warrant, which Judge Edelman issued with no bond, explaining that he believed that Borden was manipulating her release conditions.
Parties will reconvene once Borden is located.
