Mother of Dead Girl Testifies at Murder Trial

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a slain 5-year-old Iowa girl says she recalls the search that ensued after she discovered her daughter was missing.

Noel Miller and officials involved in investigating the girl's death testified Thursday in the trial of 35-year-old Casey Frederiksen, who is charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault. Prosecutors allege Frederiksen sexually abused Evelyn Miller and stabbed her to death while babysitting her in 2005. He was arrested in 2012.

The girl's body was found in the Cedar River five days after she was reported missing.

During Miller's brief testimony, she said she arrived home from work on July 1, 2005 and noticed Evelyn wasn't on the love seat where she usually slept. She says she searched the apartment, knocked on neighbors' doors and finally called 911.