Security tight for Plumadore's initial court hearing

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Michael Plumadore, 39, of Fort Wayne was in court Wednesday morning for his initial hearing in the death of nine-year-old Aliahna Lemmon.

Security was tight with thirty Allen County Sheriff's deputies on hand as Plumadore was taken into the hearing chamber.  Deputies were stationed around the perimeter of the courtroom for the proceedings and escorted him to a vehicle for transportation back to jail after his court appearance ended.

Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries said his department has been aware of threats made against the defendant and took precautions for the safety of not only Plumadore but the courthouse facility, community and law enforcement.

The hearing didn't take very long with Plumadore telling the judge that he understood his rights.  The magistrate entered a not guilty plea for Plumadore.  A trial date will be set on January 18, a pretrial hearing was also scheduled for February 27.  A public defender will be appointed to represent him.

Plumadore is accused of killing and dismembering Aliahna just before Christmas. She was reported missing late Friday evening on December 23. Authorities believe Plumadore bludgeoned the young girl with a brick sometime Thursday evening.

A massive search went underway looking for the girl over the Christmas weekend.

It wasn’t until investigators from the FBI and Allen County Sheriff’s Department interviewed Plumadore multiple times that the fate of Aliahna was learned.

According to police, Plumadore said he hit Aliahna in the head with a brick, and then dismembered her body. He apparently told investigators he put her head, hands, and feet in his freezer and the remaining body parts into a dumpster at a nearby gas station.

Plumadore was arrested December 26th and charged with murder. His initial court appearance was scheduled for December 30 but postponed. Allen County Prosecutors added additional charges that same day, including one count of abuse of a corpse and one count of moving a body.