Murder Charge Dropped In Santa Fe, Texas

SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — A murder charge against a Texas mother has been dismissed after attorneys say a county medical examiner misplaced evidence crucial to the case.  

The Santa Fe woman was freed Monday. Authorities say her 4-year-old daughter died in 2013 after the woman drunkenly shoved the child while arguing with her boyfriend.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys said the state was unable to produce tissue samples from an autopsy of the girl. Attorneys say the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office misplaced the evidence.

A spokesman for the medical examiner told the Galveston County Daily News the evidence was found Monday afternoon. He says the files had been misfiled or weren't labeled properly.

Prosecutors say they hope to refile the charge.