
Jordan Piper, 36, and Lindsey Piper, 38, of Calavares County, California.
Placerville, California: More than two years after the body of 11-year-old Roman Lopez was found in a container in the basement, his step-mother, 38-year-old Lindsay Piper has changed her plea to no contest on a charge of second-degree murder during a court appearance on Monday, May 16, 2022.
Piper is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2022 and could face a possible sentence of between 15 years and life in prison.
Her pleas of not-guilty to charges of child abuse and torture remain.
On the morning of January 11, 2020, Roman was reported missing form his home.
Officers disclosed that an initial search of the residence did not result in Roman being located, but that a second, "more extensive search" resulted in the discovery of his remains.
An examination by the medical examiner did not reveal any signs of trauma, but did show that at the time of his death, Roman was "severely malnourished" and dehydrated.
It was not until February 2021 that Lindsay and her husband, Roman's father, 36-year-old Jordan Piper were arrested. They have remained in custody since their arrests.
In October 2021, following interviews with some of the other seven children that resided in the same home, the El Dorado County District Attorney announced that an additional charge of murder was being filed against each of them.
Jordan Piper is scheduled to be back in court next week on Tuesday, May 24.