Grandmother faces more charges in death of 5-year old girl
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A 53-year-old grandmother is faced with additional charges for her role in the death of her 5-year-old granddaughter Kinsleigh Welty who died in April after police found her malnourished inside her home.
Tammy Halsey, of Mooresville, was formally charged with criminal confinement on April 17, but the state filed a motion on May 28 to have it dismissed.
According to the prosecutor’s office on Thursday, Halsey faces six charges:
- Two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death
- Two counts of neglect if a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury
- One count of neglect if a dependent results in bodily injury
- One count of failure to make a report
Halsey told investigators that she knew her daughter, Toni McClure, 29, of Indianapolis, had kept Welty in a closet for extended periods during February and March.
Kinsleigh was found unresponsive inside her home on the city’s southwest side on April 9 and was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children, where she died, police say.
According to court documents, police recovered messages between Halsey and McClure about preventing access to food for the child.
Text messages can be read in a probable cause affidavit, here.
McClure was charged with murder, criminal confinement, and battery on a person younger than 14.
McClure’s boyfriend, Ryan Smith, 27, was charged with three counts of neglect, and one count of criminal confinement. Court documents show Smith and McClure lived at the same address.
Previous Coverage
- Why grandmother was charged with criminal confinement after death of 5-year-old
- Grandmother arrested in connection to death of 5-year-old Indianapolis girl
- Mom admits to neglecting 5-year-old daughter, locking her in closet
- Indianapolis mom charged with murder, confinement of 5-year-old appears in court
- IMPD: Mom, boyfriend arrested after 5-year-old girl dies at hospital
- Mom accused of fatally neglecting 5-year-old daughter had previous neglect conviction
