TELL CITY, Ind. (TCN) — A couple has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the starvation death of a 2-year-old, police say.
The Tell City Police Department announced the arrests of 31-year-old Katherine Carter and 39-year-old Trevor Reichard-Hayes on April 3. Both were charged with murder and neglect.
On the afternoon of March 31, police responded to a residence after receiving a report of an unresponsive child. Inside, they found Erik Reichard and pronounced him dead at the scene. Police investigated the death in conjunction with the coroner’s office, the prosector’s office, and the child services department.
According to an arrest affidavit for Reichard-Hayes obtained by People, detectives noted poor living conditions, feces on the floors of children’s rooms, a large quantity of drywall and paint chips on the floors, diapers everywhere, and insects throughout the home.
According to the outlet, the couple said the last time they saw the child alive was the previous night at about 11 p.m. In the affidavit, the detective wrote that Reichard was blue and pale and appeared to have been dead for several hours. His body was covered in bug bites and sores, according to the affidavit. He appeared extremely thin and weighed approximately 15 pounds.
People reports Carter alleged the toddler had been eating his own diapers. According to an autopsy report obtained by People, the child’s body contained “foreign material with a gel-like substance and small white pieces. These findings were consistent with the gel found in the diapers worn by [Erik] as well as the material of the diaper itself. Some of the white material removed from the colon was also consistent with the drywall, paint chips, or spackling.” The child’s cause of death was determined to be severe malnutrition and dehydration due to neglect.
According to the affidavit, Carter and Reichard-Hayes’ room was clean, with the bed made, and contained no clutter.
Over the course of the investigation, two additional children were removed from the home, according to police.
People reports Carter is due to appear in court on May 14 and Reichard-Hayes is scheduled to appear in court on May 28.
The investigation is ongoing.
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