MARSHALL — Representatives of Habitat For Humanity of Redwood River appeared in Lyon County District Court on Thursday regarding the estate of a Marshall woman killed in December.

A judge said she would grant HFH of Redwood River’s petition to be named the personal representative for Meredith Martell’s estate.

Martell, 35, died Dec. 17, after being stabbed in her home in Marshall. At the time of her death, Martell and her family were living in a home that HFH of Redwood River moved to Brussels Court.

This spring, HFH of Redwood River filed a petition asking the court to rule that Martell died without leaving a will, and to determine her heirs. The petition also requested that HFH of Redwood River be appointed as the personal representative of Martell’s estate.

At a May 29 hearing, Martell’s daughter Mercedes Martell had asked that she be named representative of her mother’s estate instead.

The court gave Mercedes Martell until June 10 to file an objection or counter petition.

Court records showed that no objections or counter petitions had been filed in the case. Mercedes Martell also did not appear at Thursday’s hearing.

At the hearing, attorney Kevin Stroup said he met in person with Martell about three weeks ago. At that meeting, she had discussed wanting to be able to claim her mother’s personal property at the house. She also didn’t think there was value in the house beyond the equity belonging to HFH, Stroup said. However, Stroup said he had not heard from Martell since that meeting.

Stroup said HFH of Redwood River was willing to let Martell pick up personal property from the house.

Judge Michelle Dietrich said, under the circumstances, she would grant HFH of Redwood River’s petition.