Man arrested in Marion toddler's death

MARION, Ind. (WISH/AP) - Marion Police have arrested a 27-year-old man after a toddler was found dead Wednesday morning in the Grant County city.

Donald W. Riddle was arrested on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

Marion Police officials said the child appeared to suffer from scalding burns to her face and torso. Investigators believe the toddler, along with two other children, had been left in Riddle’s care. Riddle is the mother’s live-in boyfriend.

The home was in the 1500 block of South Miller Avenue, in a mobile home community.

The mom called police after finding the child unresponsive in her bed. Riddle tried to dissuade her from looking.

“The child was in bed. The mother we believe went to check on the child but prior to her getting there the boyfriend had told her, ‘Hey I've already done that, she's okay,’ and so she didn't go any further,” said Marion Deputy Chief, Cliff Sessoms.

Later when the mother did check, Riddle left the home before emergency personnel arrived. Officers found Riddle at a friend’s home in Sweetser around 5:45 a.m.

An autopsy report released Thursday found the burns suffered by Arianna Carmack were non-life threatening but a contributing factor in her death. The autopsy by Grant County Coroner Stephen Dorsey also found the girl had multiple bruises on her legs that were healing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.