Woodford woman pleads not guilty to charges of attempted murder

PEORIA (25 News Now) - After two weeks on the run from investigators, a Woodford county woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to the attempted murder of a coworker.

Gabrielle Sturdivant is being held on a $1.5 million bond after she allegedly ran over her Kappa Men’s Club coworker Morghan Babor with her car in early December. She is charged with attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery.

Woodford County defendants are brought in front of the Judge in orange jumpsuits, with handcuffs attached to a belt in their waist and ankles cuffed together. Sturdivant, 21, looked at her aunt present in the gallery before turning towards the judge. Her purple hair from the mugshot now pulled back into two braids.

Babor shared her story with 25News last week, she was recently released from the hospital after sustaining a broken collar bone, a fractured jaw, and stitches throughout her face. Babor believes she will walk again but has been unable to work since she was hit.

Investigators said Sturdivant and Babor were fighting inside and outside of Kappa Men’s Club. They further claim Sturdivant got into her car and drove up to Babor who was standing in the parking lot. There was an argument, then Sturdivant reportedly drove off, running over Babor first.

Sturdivant was then on the run from police for two weeks. She was arrested by US Marshals in the Springfield area on Dec. 16.

Sturdivant’s next court appearance is Feb. 15, with her trial scheduled for Feb. 27.

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