Parents speak out about toddler's death

Shelbyville, Ind. (WISH) - A Shelbyville man named as a person of interest in a shaken baby case, is now behind bars charged with the toddler's death.

"She was a loving child. She loved everybody. She always had to be around people," said Jason Badgley.

Badgley held back tears as he described his 19-month-old daughter, Erin. Erin died Thursday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Doctors said she had been severely shaken to death.

"She was stolen from us. It just wasn't right. She was innocent, she couldn't defend herself," Badgley said.

Friday night, Shelbyville Police arrested Timothy Reedy in connection with Erin's death.

"He was always good to her and he just.. I don't know what happened," said Ashley Fleener, Erin's mother.

Reedy is the boyfriend of Erin's mother, Ashley Fleener. Investigators said Reedy was taking care of Erin when she was injured.

"He was always playing with her, laughing with her and I guess one day he decided he didn't want to anymore," Fleener said.

Police say Reedy took Erin to a Shelbyville hospital Wednesday with severe head injuries. Hours after Reedy's arrest, Erin's young parents are trying to cope with her not coming home and planning her funeral.

"It's the hardest thing to do, it's not right," said Badgley.

"It's very hard to go through this; it's very hard to see these guys go through this for such young parents," said Jennifer Taylor, Erin's Aunt.

Erin celebrated her first birthday in April. Her mother said its a celebration she will never forget.

"She was a little princess, she was always happy - always smiling," Fleener said.

Erin Badgley's viewing is Monday night for family and friends from 4 to 7pm at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church in Waldron, Indiana.  Her funeral is Tuesday morning at 10.