The man charged in the Christmas Day 2022 death of a 3-year-old Edgecomb girl plead “not guilty” Jan. 11 in Lincoln County Unified Criminal Court. Tyler Witham-Jordan, 29, of Edgecomb and Livermore, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and chained at the wrist and ankles, told Justice Daniel Billings he understood the charges before him and, later, entered his not guilty plea. Witham-Jordan was charged with Depraved Indifference Murder in connection with Makinzlee Handrahan’s death.

Following the arraignment, Billings met with Witham-Jordan’s defense lawyers, James Howaniec and Jesse Archer, and State Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ackerman in chambers. Ackerman said the case should be a priority based on Maine law regarding a child’s death. Billings agreed. No trial date was set during the arraignment.

Witham-Jordan was arrested Oct. 12, 2023 after a nearly year-long investigation; the Maine State Police concluded physical evidence pointed toward Witham-Jordan as the murderer. Court documents disclosed Handrahan’s mother called 911 around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2022 after finding her daughter “cold, stiff, bruised and not breathing.” Dispatchers reported hearing the mother say “Oh my God! I think my daughter’s dead.” Witham-Jordan was later identified as the mother’s boyfriend who lived at the Edgecomb apartment.

Jan. 11, the defense team didn’t seek any bail modifications. Witham-Jordan remains held at Two Bridges Regional Jail on $250,000 bail.