The three people charged in the death of 7-year-old William Evans-Ellis are scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Aug. 14, before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins on a 13-count grand jury indictment that includes aggravated murder, a charge carrying life in prison without parole.

Kaitlin Evans, 38, the child's mother; Kirby Rankin, 33; and Nessa Keaney, 23, were indicted Aug. 13, after a grand jury reviewed evidence in the case. The arraignment on the new charges was set for 9 a.m. Friday, according to WVXU.

The indictment represents a major escalation from the original murder and child endangerment charges filed Aug. 6, when William was found dead, bound in a closet at 2822 Madison Road in Oakley. The new charges add aggravated murder, kidnapping, felonious assault, and two conspiracy counts: one for conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and one for conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

All three defendants face up to life without parole if convicted.

The case is not currently eligible for the death penalty, though Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said the investigation remains ongoing.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure these people never again see the light of day, and never again have the opportunity to harm another child," Pillich said at an Aug. 13 press conference announcing the indictment.

Prosecutors allege the abuse and planning began as early as July 1. Investigators found evidence in text messages on the Signal encrypted messaging app, including an audio message Rankin allegedly sent to Keaney on July 4 with plans to kidnap and kill William, according to WCPO.

Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. William had bruises "too numerous to count" in various stages of healing and a fractured upper arm bone, Sammarco said at an Aug. 11 press conference. She estimated he had been dead at least a day before he was found.

At the earlier arraignment on Aug. 8, investigators testified William suffered months of abuse including water torture, possible burns, blunt force injuries and beatings. A veteran homicide detective called it "probably one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse" he had encountered in decades.

The three defendants lived together at the Madison Road apartment and acted as co-parents to William, according to prosecutors. Neighbors told investigators they did not know a child lived in the home. The day before William's death, the three took a pet to the vet for vaccinations while leaving the boy at home alone.

Each defendant remains held on $1.1 million bond at the Hamilton County Justice Center, as we reported Aug. 7. A competency evaluation for Rankin, ordered at the earlier arraignment, is scheduled for Sept. 4.

Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie acknowledged the toll on first responders at the Aug. 13 press conference. "I don't believe a human being is supposed to see something like this," Hennie said.

Toxicology results, DNA testing and William's medical records were still pending as of Aug. 13. The next scheduled court date after Friday's arraignment has not been announced.