A Lancaster city man will be tried on charges he viciously beat a 2-year-old girl to death last month, a district judge ordered Tuesday.

Lester Leringo Johnson is charged with punching and kicking Ranasia Knight, then neglecting the child's obvious injuries. She died Jan. 12, a day after police say she was beaten by Johnson, her mother's live-in boyfriend.

To make matters worse for the child's family, police say, Ranasia's body was neglected by Gundel Funeral Home, which was tasked with her funeral and cremation arrangements.

Johnson, 30, waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday, conceding that city police had enough evidence to charge him with homicide, aggravated assault and endangering a child. He doesn't acknowledge guilt.

In turn, District Judge Janice Jimenez ordered Johnson to stand trial in Lancaster County Court, likely sometime later this year.

Johnson didn't appear in Jimenez's courtroom, but he signed paperwork Tuesday morning at Lancaster County Prison with his attorney, David Blanck.

"This is just one step in the process," District Attorney Craig Stedman said following the waiver, "but it is one step further in the pursuit of justice in this tragic case."

Ironically, on Jan. 9 — two days before police say Johnson beat the girl — Johnson posted a satirical coupon on his social-media page stating: "ONE FREE MURDER. This voucher entitles you to commit one murder without legal, social or financial consequence."

Johnson's commentary on the coupon reads: "Wish I had one of these and it was official.... lol (laugh out loud)."

Stedman said pursuing the death penalty hasn't been ruled out.

"We have not made a decision but will look at the facts and the law and make one in the near future," he said.

Johnson initially told first-responders that Ranasia had fallen; doctors later discovered the girl had been abused, investigators said.

First, police allege, Johnson balled up his fist and struck Ranasia so hard that her retina was split, making her blind in her right eye. As she fell to the floor, Johnson kicked her repeatedly in the stomach, causing internal injuries.

Johnson did nothing for 18 hours, police say, until he called 911 on Jan. 12 at 3:10 a.m.

Ranasia was semiconscious when medics arrived at the house, and she died about an hour later at Lancaster General Hospital, an arrest affidavit shows.

Johnson eventually confessed to beating the girl, officials said.

The treatment of Ranasia's body, along with other cases, prompted police to charge Benjamin Siar Jr., director of Gundel Funeral Home, with a number of criminal counts.

After Ranasia's body was released by the Lancaster County Coroner's Office on Jan. 18, documents show, it was turned over to Siar. The funeral director accepted a payment of $400 from the child's family for cremation.

That cremation never happened, police allege. Ranasia's decomposing remains were discovered lying on a table in a preparation room in the basement of the funeral home. The room was not refrigerated, secured or attended, according to court documents.
bhambright@lnpnews.com