Mother arrested after 3-month-old baby found dead

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A 36-year-old mother has been arrested after her 3-month-old baby was found dead. 

Rachel McAfee faces a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent causing death. 

Rachel and her baby, Emma McAfee, had been reported missing on Monday. 

Just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Rachel was found alive with the baby in her car in the 2600 block of Stanford Court. A neighbor in the area had reported the car to police. 

Police did not discuss how the woman ended up in the northwest-side neighborhood, but said family members live nearby. 

Emma was pronounced dead on the scene. She was taken to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital with what police describe as cold weather injuries.

IMPD said that Emma’s autopsy was to be completed on Wednesday.

John McAfee, husband to Rachel and father of Emma, said his wife never showed up at his parents’ house to drop off Emma on Monday, and did not show up at an 11 a.m. meeting. 

At the time, Mr. McAfee said he didn’t know why his wife left. He said she never threatened to leave before although she had threatened to harm herself in the past.

“Just want my family home,” he said. “I’m just extremely stressed. It’s hard to find words.”

IMPD said its investigation will include looking at McAfee’s alcoholism and postpartum depression. She had been described as suicidal. 

A mugshot for McAfee has not yet been provided.