Petitions have been submitted to county authorities in an effort to force a grand jury investigation into the death of a 2-year-old Gering girl four years ago.
Relatives and supporters of Juliette Geurts are not satisfied with officials' efforts to find out whether she was a homicide victim and who killed her.
No arrests have been reported.
More than 1,700 signatures were on the petitions submitted Wednesday to the Scotts Bluff District Court clerk in Gering. Nebraska is one of six states that allow grand juries to convene by petition.
The signatures must be verified by the county clerk before they are submitted to District Court Judge Randy Lippstreu, who will review the petition language.
