Parents face neglect charges after baby daughter dies

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By Beth Boehne

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors have filed neglect charges against the parents of an 8-month-old girl whom police say had alcohol in her system when she apparently suffocated on a bedroom floor.

William Reed, 35, and Kathryn Turner, 32, each face one count of Class A felony neglect, which carries a prison sentence of 20 to 50 years if convicted. Their daughter, Kimberly Faith Reed, was found dead March 19 by her 4-year-old sister.

The baby was apparently left alone on a bed and fell on the floor in a messy bedroom, police said. She had a black plastic trash bag covering her mouth, according to a probable cause affidavit. The baby had alcohol in her system, police said, and traces of alcohol were also found on a bottle of baby formula.

"The evidence points to this child being left in an extremely dangerous environment," said Matthew Symons, spokesman for the Marion County prosecutor's office. "The fact that there was alcohol in her bloodstream as well as her being in close proximity to a plastic bag that ended up on her head indicates the serious nature of this crime."

Reed and Turner were arrested Saturday. They are in jail on $100,000 bond and have an initial court hearing set Tuesday. Symons said he did not know whether Reed and Turner have a lawyer.

Child Protective Services took two other children from the home after the girl died, the affidavit said. The baby had been the subject of a state Department of Child Services case last year because she was born with marijuana and cocaine in her system, the affidavit said.

Another case began in April 2007 based on living conditions at the home, police said.

A DCS spokeswoman said the department is investigating the handling of the prior cases and is also looking into the fatality.

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