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Couple makes first court appearance following toddler's death

On Wednesday morning, 23-year-old Shelby Love and her boyfriend, 33-year-old John Hardee, faced a judge. They are charged with felony child abuse and neglect.

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- A Norfolk couple is facing felony charges after the death of a 2-year-old girl.

On Wednesday morning, 23-year-old Shelby Love and her boyfriend, 33-year-old John Hardee, faced a judge.

Love and Hardee both sat in the same courtroom together during their first court appearance. Hardee glanced over at Love, but she didn't look back and at one point got emotional.

On Tuesday night, police charged the couple with felony child abuse and neglect in connection with the death of Love's 2-year-old daughter. According to court documents, Hardee's previous criminal history included strangulation and child neglect.

A 911 call had gone out early Tuesday morning about an unresponsive child. According to the 911 caller, the child was scalded in the bathtub, had a seizure, and then turned blue.

Once police got to the Sandy Beach Apartments in Ocean View, detectives said they noticed the toddler had burns to parts of her body.

Medics rushed her to CHKD, but doctors were not able to save her.

During Wednesday's court appearance, the judge appointed Love and Hardee attorneys and set their bond hearing for Monday, April 30.

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