Shawn Main. PCSO photo

Attorneys for the state will call a medical examiner as witness in a special January hearing for Shawn Main, the woman accused of causing the death of 3-year-old Tiana Rosalie Capps in 2015.

Monday, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Kevin White rescheduled a “Chronis hearing” for Jan. 18, after its original date was vacated Dec. 1 due to a full court docket.

Main’s attorneys requested the hearing ahead of her trial in July, when she will be tried for capital murder. The hearing permits such defendants to “request a determination of probable cause as to alleged aggravating circumstances,” according to Arizona Supreme Court Law.

During the status review hearing Dec. 18, Prosecutor Vince Goddard revealed the state’s argument in the future Chronis hearing will be based on two aggravating circumstances: the victim’s age and the offense allegedly being heinous, cruel and depraved.

The hearing is scheduled to last two hours with the state’s main testimony coming from a medical examiner.

“I think the state’s case would be about 45 minutes, and that’s almost 100 percent going to be the medical examiner,” Goddard said during the hearing Monday.

The autopsy performed by Pima Medical Examiner’s Office two years ago showed Tiana died from repeated blunt-force trauma Nov. 19, 2015, while in the care of Main.

After her death, Tiana’s three surviving siblings were taken into protective custody and had been also reportedly subjected to abuse and neglect.

On Christmas Eve that year, Main and two other women living in the household were arrested: Main’s wife Maria Tiglao and the children’s biological mother Tina Morse.

Main, Tiana’s caretaker, was subsequently charged with murder while the other two women were charged with varying counts of child abuse.

The Chronis hearing is set for Jan. 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Pinal County Superior Courthouse.

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