ADEL, Iowa — Marc and Misty Ray pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three new charges filed earlier this month.
The Rays were charged May 2 with ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft and first-degree fraudulent practice. Dallas County District Court Judge Terry Rickers received the written pleas Tuesday, and the Rays did not appear in court.
The new charges relate to offenses alleged to have occurred Sept. 1, 2013, according to court records. The Perry couple also faces first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping charges in the 2017 starvation death of 16-year-old Sabrina Ray.
Sabrina Ray, the Rays’ adoptive daughter, was found unresponsive about 6:30 p.m. May 12, 2017, at 1708 First Ave. in Perry, where the Rays operated a daycare facility. Sabrina weighed 56 pounds when she died, according to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.
The Rays were arrested May 18 and were each initially charged with one count of child endangerment resulting in death, four counts of child endangerment resulting in serious injury and three counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.
First-degree kidnapping charges were filed against the Rays one week after their arrest, and first-degree murder charges were filed against them in October.
A candlelight vigil in remembrance of Sabrina on the first anniversary of her death was held May 11 from 6-8 p.m. in Wiese Park. Mourners gathered by her memorial tree and bench near the children’s playground.
