A Bismarck woman has been charged with manslaughter in the April 2008 death of a 3-month-old Mandan boy.

Larena Doll, 30, was charged Thursday with Class B felony manslaughter in the death of 3-month-old Kingston Kuntz of Mandan. According to the complaint filed in the case, she is accused of injuring the infant on April 14, 2008, resulting in his eventual death.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Feland said the state medical examiner listed the cause of death on the child's autopsy report as "cerebral edema due to subdural hematoma due to blunt head injury."

South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick set bond for Doll at $10,000 cash or surety and prohibited her from having contact with children younger than 18 other than her own. Defense attorney Ralph Vinje said Doll has an infant child.

Prosecutors argued for a $25,000 cash bond in the case, citing Doll's extensive criminal history of bad checks and driving offenses. Feland said Doll does not have custody of four of her own children due to abuse issues.

"We do consider her to be a danger," she said.

Vinje, representing Doll for her initial appearance, said that amount of bond would be unreasonable. He said the alleged offense occurred nearly a year ago, and the length of time it took the prosecutors to file the charge could indicate a weak case.

Romanick said he understands the prosecutors' position but did not see the necessity of the high cash bond when Doll had been free since the alleged offense.

Kingston died April 17, 2008, at St. Alexius Medical Center, according to his obituary. Bismarck Police Sgt. Dwight Offerman said Doll called an ambulance for the child while she was watching him on April 14.

Feland said in court Thursday that Doll was a daycare provider for Kingston. She said the delay in filing charges in the case was due to the state's attorney's office working to eliminate other possible suspects who could have injured the infant. To do so, they had to wait for complete autopsy and lab reports and interviews.

"I realize it took a period of time to do that," she said.

The courtroom where defendants made their initial appearances on Burleigh County cases on Thursday was packed with spectators, many of whom appeared to be there for Doll's appearance. Kingston's mother, Danielle Starr, sobbed during and after the short hearing.

According to Kingston's obituary, he was born Jan. 19, 2008, to Brett Kuntz and Starr.

"He was a little charmer who brought joy to everyone he met," the obituary said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)