MIAMI A Miami woman accused of drowning her 9-year-old autistic son in a canal pleaded not guilty to murder charges at a Friday hearing. Ripley faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and filing a false police report. Prosecutors have filed a notice to seek a grand jury indictment for first-degree murder, but grand juries have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Under Florida law, only someone who is indicted by a grand jury can receive the death penalty. The boys body was pulled out of a golf course canal the next morning as police continued to interrogate the woman.

Published: May 23, 2020, 9:10 am Updated: May 23, 2020, 10:13 amMIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Nine-year-old Alejandro Ripley is dead. THE FLORIDA AMBER ALERTTo help find Alejandro, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert on Thursday night. THE CRIME SCENEThe Florida Amber Alert for Alejandro Ripley has been cancelled. A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for 9-year-old Alejandro Ripley last seen in Miami. If you have any information please contact the Miami-Dade Police Department at 305-476-5423 or 911. pic.twitter.com/wclDe96qgz — FDLE (@fdlepio) May 22, 2020

Authorities have not confirmed how Alejandro Ripley died or where his body was found, News 6 partner WPLG-TV reported. The Florida Amber Alert for Alejandro Ripley has been cancelled. — FDLE (@fdlepio) May 22, 2020EARLIER STORY:An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 9-year-old boy who was abducted in South Florida, according to officials. Police said Alejandro Ripley was abducted Thursday night by two men at a Home Depot in The Hammocks area in Miami-Dade County. Contact law enforcement immediately.”The FDLE said Alejandro was last seen wearing a Captain America T-shirt, black shorts and black Crocs.