Rhaesean Lowry, the man police say raped and killed 3-year-old Tatiana Emerson in August, was arraigned Friday morning about an hour after the child's mother made her first appearance in court on related charges.
Melanie Emerson was indicted two weeks ago on a charge of aggravated child endangerment after a grand jury brought criminal charges of felony murder, aggravated child abuse, child abuse and rape of a child and false reports against Lowry, her boyfriend.
Tatiana Emerson died Aug. 27. Though Lowry told police the child fell down stairs while he was watching her at the Chattanooga Econo Lodge where they were staying, an autopsy later showed she was raped and beaten to death.
Tatiana's 5-year-old brother also told police Lowry beat him, resulting in an additional charge of child abuse.
Melanie Emerson's charges of aggravated child endangerment mean prosecutors believe she knew about the abuse and did not act to stop it. She is out on bond, and asked Judge Don Poole on Friday for more time to hire a lawyer.
Lowry is being held in the Hamilton County Jail. He was arraigned Friday by video, and Poole appointed attorney Steve Brown to represent him.
Emerson is scheduled to appear again May 15. Lowry is expected to appear in court again June 3.
Contact Claire Wiseman at cwiseman@timesfreepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @clairelwiseman.