Muncie parents charged with daughter's death

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) - The father and stepmother of a 5-year-old Muncie girl are behind bars charged with her death.

The little girl's other family members spoke exclusively with 24-Hour News 8's Phil Sanchez.

Lauren McConniel spent almost a week on life support at Riley Hospital for Children but she wasn't able to pull through.

"I haven't had a decent night sleep since that baby died," Linda Smith, her step grandmother, said.

Lauren passed away in March.

On Friday police arrested her stepmother, Brittany McConniel and her biological father Ryan McConniel. Both are charged with neglect in connection her death.

Smith said since February she knew something wasn't right.

"I (saw) her then and I thought, she really lost a lot of weight, and I asked about it and they said they were taking her to the doctor, and that she was being treated by a physician, and that she was in counseling for an eating disorder, and I said at 5? And they said, yeah she has an eating disorder," Smith added.

A few weeks later Smith saw Lauren one more time at Riley Hospital for Children.

Smith said she knew it would be the last time...

"You could just tell by looking at her, there was nothing left of her, she was skin and bone, she had all of these things all over her head, she wasn't breathing right, you could just tell." Smith said

After Lauren died the McConniel's moved to nearby Eaton before being arrested this week.

They have three other children who are now with other family members.

The Muncie house where they once lived, where 5 year old Lauren once played with her brother and sisters is now occupied by other family members.

Linda Smith tells us she thinks Ryan McConniel is innocent.

"I don't know, I know he was working full-time, going to school full-time, I know he wasn't here a lot, I really wish I knew the answer to that question." Smith added.

Lauren would've celebrated her 6th birthday in October.

The probable cause affidavit, which will provide more information into what allegedly happened, should be released Monday.