A preliminary hearing was set during Timothy Madden's first court appearance in Allen County, Kentucky Monday afternoon.
He appeared before a judge around 3:45 p.m. Monday afternoon. Both the Doolin family and Madden's family became very emotional as the judge recounted his charges. The preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.
The 38-year-old was charged Friday with murder, first degree rape of a victim under 12 years of age, first degree sodomy of a victim under 12 years of age, and kidnapping in the death of Gabriella Doolin.
#BREAKING Timmy Madden the man accused of killing 7-year-old Gabbi Doolin says he's innocent. pic.twitter.com/VztbczvaiE
— Jennifer Reyes (@NC5_JReyes) November 20, 2015
Doolin’s body was found on the evening of November 14 in a creek near a wooded area behind Allen County-Scottsville High School.
Investigators said the death was ruled as a homicide due to the state in which she was found and other evidence found at the scene.
According to the Associated Press, the arrest warrant for Madden said the child was strangled and drowned.
The police citation in the case said Madden's DNA was collected during the investigation and matched that recovered from the child during the autopsy.
However, Madden said he is innocent.
“If they find the right person, I will come out and I will, like I said, sue everybody that's slandering my name and put me where I am at today. Cause [sic] I am innocent, I know I am, and everybody who knows me, knows I am,” he told WDRB.
Madden's bond remains at $1 million.
