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Woman charged with kidnapping, killing Nalani Johnson heading to trial

By Renee Wallace, WPXI-TV
By Renee Wallace, WPXI-TV

PITTSBURGH — The woman accused in the kidnapping and death of a Penn Hills toddler was in court Friday for a preliminary hearing.

Sharena Nancy is charged with criminal homicide and kidnapping in the death of 2-year-old Nalani Johnson.

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An Amber Alert was triggered when, according to police, Nancy abducted Nalani on Aug. 31 in Penn Hills.

Nalani’s body was found days later, still strapped in a car seat at a park in Indiana County.

Doctors said Nalani had scratches on her face, but it’s unclear how she died. A forensic pathologist testified that Johnson likely died of suffocation but the individual could not say with medical certainty.

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  • Woman at center of Amber Alert told police toddler's father was planning to sell her
  • DA: Woman who abducted toddler was only person involved in her death, evidence shows
  • Loved ones gather to say goodbye to Nalani Johnson
  • Technology helping investigators build case against suspect in toddler's abduction, death
  • 'A piece of me is really missing': Nalani Johnson's mother speaks about daughter's death
  • DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts

    • "A piece of me is really missing": Nalani Johnson's mother speaks about daughter's death The mother of Nalani Johnson shared her pain with Channel 11, speaking publicly for the first time. Police said Nalani was kidnapped on August 31, triggering an AMBER Alert. Three days later, her body was found in an Indiana County park. MORE: https://bit.ly/2Ww4dOW Subscribe to WPXI: https://on.wpxi.com/YouTube Connect with WPXI online: https://www.wpxi.com/ Download our FREE apps: https://wpxiapps.com/

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