The Associated Press reports that Levi Aron-the man who recently plead not guilty to charges of kidnapping and second-degree murder arising from the brutal killing of an 8-year-old Brooklyn boy-was indicted on Wednesday on murder charges.

As we have noted in a previous post, police found the boy's body wrapped in plastic in Aron's apartment freezer the day after he went missing following attendance at a day camp. According to police and medical officials, the boy remained in the apartment while Aron was at work the following day, after which he was drugged, suffocated, and dismembered.

In terms of the timeline of events, detectives believe the boy was taken to a wedding 35 miles north of Brooklyn shortly after being kidnapped on Monday, July 11, where he stayed for several hours before coming back to Aron's apartment. Attendants at the wedding did not report seeing the boy, but a gas station attendant along the way said saw the boy go to the bathroom. That night, the boy is believed to have stayed at Aron's apartment. The next day, Aron went to work as usual, leaving the boy at the apartment, but is said to have left shortly before 5 o'clock and killed the boy out of fear of being caught.

Prosecutors and investigating police said that Aron confessed to smothering the boy with a towel, but that it is still unclear why he kidnapped the child in the first place. A medical examination revealed that the smothering combined with intoxication from the effects of several medications was the cause of the boy's death. The drugs used in the killing were apparently found in Aron's apartment.

According to his attorney, Aron suffers from hallucinations and heard voices which told him to murder the boy. Since he was taken into custody, he has been placed on suicide watch. Police are still investigating whether Aron has been involved in any other kidnappings or other suspicious activity with other children.

Source: Associated Press, "NY medical examiner: Boy was drugged, smothered," Colleen Long, 20 July 2011.