BRAINERD, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Jorden Nicole Borders, accused of torturing her three children, appeared via Zoom with her public defender, Mark Hansen, on Tuesday, April 23. They requested more time as the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office assumed prosecution. Assistant Attorneys General Mary Russell and Dominika Kins were consulted, with the state supporting the request. Borders is scheduled to return to court on June 4.
Initially charged on Nov. 21, 2022, with child torture and stalking, Borders faced additional charges of felony attempted murder and theft related to medical expenses. Judge Aanes approved the prosecution’s request for an aggravated sentence for attempted murder, citing the vulnerability of the victim and cruelty of the act. The defense’s motion to dismiss the attempted murder charge was denied.
The investigation uncovered disturbing allegations of abuse, including withdrawing blood and inflicting physical harm. Concerns arose over Borders’ alleged fabrication of her children’s medical conditions. The children were removed from her custody, and Borders agreed to terminate parental rights with her husband in December 2022.