On July 17, a bail hearing was postponed in the case of Kiannah Bonaparte, 49, after requests from both the prosecutor and the defense to respond in writing to receiving information the defendant may chose to represent herself.
Defense attorney Robert Cohen appeared as new defense counsel on July 16, with Chantel Simon standing in for him today before Judge Kendra Y. Ausby.
Bonaparte is being charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and the use of a dangerous weapon with the intent to harm in connection to the death of Gregory Turnipseed, 71, on Oct. 17, 2025 in the 500 block of St. Paul Street.
Turnipseed was evaluated at the hospital where he suffered abrasions to his face, head and hands and was then released. He returned to the hospital on Oct. 20, 2025 for headaches where he was then diagnosed with a traumatic subdural hematoma and underwent surgery. He was later discharged with home health care, but was later hospitalized again Nov. 25 after becoming unresponsive. Turnipseed died on Nov 26. 2025
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Turnipseed’s death a homicide caused by complications of blunt force head injuries.
Investigators say Turnipseed photographed the license plate of the suspects’ vehicle before they fled on Oct. 17, 2025 which led investigators to Bonaparte.
In recorded jail calls, Bonaparte allegedly told someone she struck Turnipseed with a stroller during an altercation to get him off her daughter while denying that she kicked him.
The daughter allegedly described the incident in a recorded jail call with another inmate believed to be her brother. The daughter said she got out of the car to confront Turnipseed and he came toward her, so she bit him. She then later described how Bonaparte allgedly beat Turnipseed in the back with a stroller while they were on the ground and that the daughter got up and stomped his head.
The case will return to reception court on July 31.
