$3M bond set for suspect charged in Central Texas toddler’s death

The bond set for a suspect charged with capital murder in the death of a 20-month-old Rockdale girl has been increased from $750,000 to $3 million, Milam County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Shawn Vincent Boniello, who’s also known as Shayla Angeline Boniello, 30, remains in the Milam County Jail.

Boniello identifies as a transgender woman, according to Rockdale police.

Boniello is charged in the Dec. 3, 2018 death of Patricia Ann Rader.

Officers, firefighters and paramedics responded to the girl’s home at around 5:45 p.m. Dec. 3 after receiving a report of an unresponsive child.

Paramedics performed CPR at the scene, but were unable to revive the girl.

Boniello was arrested that night and was initially charged with child abandonment/endangerment, but on Dec. 4, 2018 was also named in a complaint charging capital murder.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

A trial date has not been set.

State District Judge John Youngblood raised the bond on Friday.