LEXINGTON, N.C. — A Davidson County grand jury declined to indict a 20-year-old woman accused of killing her father, a decision prosecutors and defense attorneys say does not necessarily end the case.

Court records show grand jurors returned a “no true bill” Monday in the first-degree murder case against Maleigha Allen. The decision means jurors did not find enough evidence to formally indict Allen and move the case to trial at this time. Allen currently has no charges pending against her, according to her attorney.

A grand jury is different from a trial jury. In North Carolina, felony cases must go through the grand jury process before they can move forward in Superior Court. Grand jurors review evidence presented by the state, including testimony from subpoenaed witnesses, and decide whether enough probable cause exists to issue an indictment.

Grand jury proceedings are private and not open to the public. Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank told WFMY News 2 prosecutors are also not allowed inside while jurors hear evidence and deliberate, meaning the state does not know exactly what led jurors to reject the indictment.

Allen had been charged in connection with the April death of her father, 44-year-old Michael Allen, at a home on Bryant Road in Lexington.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office previously said Michael Allen died from sharp force trauma. Deputies also said Maleigha Allen had multiple stab wounds when they first found her in the Whispering Oaks Drive area before investigators discovered her father dead inside the Bryant Road home.

Investigators later announced they believed the killing was premeditated and charged Allen with first-degree murder after she was released from the hospital.

Now, both prosecutors and Allen’s attorney say the case could still change.

“If a grand jury decides there’s not probable cause to proceed, the state can present its evidence again later if it believes it needs to build a stronger case or reassess what was presented,” Allen’s defense attorney Karen Gerber told WFMY News 2. “It would be possible for them to pursue first-degree murder again, or reevaluate the case and pursue second-degree murder, manslaughter or something lesser. As of right now, there are no charges pending against Ms. Allen.”

Gerber, a partner at Gerber Green & Principe, said “no true bill” decisions are rare.

“I have been practicing exclusively in criminal defense for 21 years, and this is the second no true bill I have dealt with in my career,” Gerber said.

Gerber also emphasized that the grand jury’s decision is procedurally different from prosecutors choosing to dismiss charges on their own.

“It was the grand jury that declined to indict, which is procedurally different from the state entering a dismissal,” Gerber said.

She also addressed the intense online reaction surrounding the case, where many people publicly supported Allen after details spread on social media.

“It certainly appears there’s been a tremendous amount of positive support,” Gerber said.

Gerber said the public reaction to the case has sparked conversations about “difficult subjects” and “voices that are sometimes overlooked or not heard.”

“I tend to think positive public discourse and raising awareness on difficult subjects in the community is always a good thing,” Gerber said.

Gerber declined to discuss whether the online support or discussion is connected to Allen’s legal defense.

Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank also emphasized the significance of the grand jury’s decision while defending the original murder charge.

“Based on the evidence, reports and investigation that were given to us, I felt there was probable cause to pursue a first-degree murder charge, or I would not have signed the indictment and sent it to the grand jury,” Frank told WFMY News 2.

Frank said prosecutors do not know exactly what led jurors to reject the indictment.

“We don’t really know what factors, questions or indications led the grand jury to do what they did,” Frank said.

Frank said his office respects the grand jury’s decision and called it an important part of the criminal justice system.

“This was a significant action by the grand jury,” Frank said. “I believe in this system, and it’s another indication that the grand jury is an important aspect of our criminal justice system.”

He said the case remains under review and could still move forward if investigators develop additional evidence.

“If we have new evidence, we can have unlimited proceedings that we could possibly pursue, but we’ve got to evaluate it and decide whether there’s any basis for doing anything else on this case,” Frank said.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office also said investigators still stand by the original charge while respecting the grand jury’s decision.

“We believe our investigation and evidence supported the first degree murder charge that Ms. Allen was originally charged with after we completed the investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement to WFMY News 2. “Our detectives charged Ms. Allen after consulting with our district attorney’s office. Our investigators took the facts and applied the law, which resulted in the charging of Ms. Allen.”

The sheriff’s office added that detectives continue to work with the district attorney’s office on the investigation and thanked jurors for their service.

“Our agency thanks each person who served on this grand jury and respects our criminal justice system,” the statement said.

WFMY News 2 asked investigators, prosecutors and the defense about the evidence in the case, including questions about Maleigha Allen’s stab wounds, possible self-defense and what investigators believe showed premeditation. None of them would discuss specific evidence or details about what happened inside the home.