According to a press release, officers were dispatched around 9 a.m. to the 4500 block of Spring Valley Road in reference to a female not breathing.
Officials say the reporter stated she found her roommate’s 4-year-old daughter unresponsive and ‘beyond help’ in the apartment.
The arriving officer found the child to be ‘cold to the touch.’ The Evansville Fire Department began working to revive the child. She was transported to the hospital and at this time she is still alive but has very little brain activity.
The mother, later identified as 23-year-old Destiny F. Rhoades, was at work when her daughter was found, and returned to the apartment.
Rhoades’ 16-year-old boyfriend was located inside of the apartment along with three other adult females who also live there.
All four adult residents were transported to EPD headquarters and interviewed by detectives. The 16-year-old was not interviewed due to his age.
Police say while interviewing Rhoades, she stated she went to work around 7:00 a.m. and reported that her daughter was asleep at that time.
A roommate stated that she noticed the child had bruises on her body Wednesday, specifically around her neck area. She also had a human bite mark on her forearm.
Detectives were told the 16-year-old boyfriend admitted he bit the child, but only after she bit him first.
A roommate reported that the child seemed to be ‘staring off and was nauseous’ while in Rhoades’ care last night.
All three of these circumstances went unreported to law enforcement or medical staff during their occurrence.
EPD: 4-year-old found unresponsive leads to two arrests and multiple charges
Officials say the 4-year-old daughter was found unresponsive at an apartment.
Rhoades has been arrested and booked in the Vanderburgh County on charges of Neglect of a Dependent, Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor, and Invasion of Privacy.
She is currently being held on a $100,000 bond and is expected back in court on June 20th.
The 16-year-old boyfriend has been arrested and placed at the Youth Care Center for charges of Battery and False Informing.
Should the arresting offenses change, and the juvenile male is waived to adult court, his name will be released at that time.
EPD: 4-year-old found unresponsive leads to two arrests and multiple charges
EPD says the child was transported to the hospital and at this time she is still alive but has very little brain activity.
