GERING, Neb. (AP) – A judge’s decision is expected next week on a petition calling for a grand jury investigation into the 2008 death of a 2-year-old Gering girl.

More than 1,700 petition signatures were turned in but only 975 valid signatures were needed. The Scotts Bluff County clerk has certified the necessary signatures and has turned the petition over to Judge Randy Lippstreu.

Nebraska is one of six states that allow grand juries to convene by petition.

Lippstreu will review the petition language, and he says he’ll make a decision next week.

The petition effort was started earlier this year by relatives and others who are dissatisfied with officials’ efforts to find out whether Juliette Geurts was a homicide victim and who might have killed her.