By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 25-year-old Maylene woman who has been charged with the 2014 death of her infant son is set to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court in early August, according to court scheduling documents.

Sommer Nicole Wilford, who is facing a felony reckless murder charge, is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 7 for a hearing in front of Circuit Court Judge Bill Bostick.

Wilford’s reckless murder charge came in the wake of a Feb. 28, 2014, vehicle crash near the intersection of Alabama 119 and Kent Dairy Road in Alabaster.

According to Alabaster Police, when officers arrived on the scene of the crash, they found Wilford “standing outside the vehicle that was engulfed in flames.” After Alabaster firefighters extinguished the fire, they discovered the body of 19-month-old Jayden Allen inside the vehicle.

Wilford was released from the Shelby County Jail on March 20, 2014, after multiple individuals put their properties up as collateral on her $300,000 bond.

Prosecutors have claimed Wilford was under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred.

In December 2015, then-Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Wilford at the request of Wilford’s attorney, Kenneth Moore.

“Defendant has a long history of drug use and drug abuse, and has demonstrated a decreasing ability to understand the situation she is presently in,” read Moore’s order requesting the psychiatric evaluation. “At times, defendant has not been able to assist in preparation of defense because of disconnect with reality.”

Reckless murder is a Class A felony, according to Alabama law. If convicted, Wilford could face up to life in prison.