'Knew immediately she was deceased': 1-year-old baby girl died with her abdomen permanently 'sucked in' after mom left her to starve to death in crib all day, police say

Inset: Evangelina Thrift. Background: Nevada mom Alivia Thrift in court (KLAS).

A Nevada mother neglected her 1-year-old daughter to the point where she died covered in insect bites — from cockroaches or bedbugs — and sores from lying in decaying milk and bodily waste, prosecutors say. The child's heart muscle also began dying before she allegedly starved to death.

"Didn't even have enough calories to make the fat in the bone marrow to replace the marrow elements," Clark County Medical Examiner Nathan Shaller testified to grand jurors before Alivia Thrift, 26, was indicted on charges of murder and child abuse, neglect, or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm.

Grand jury transcripts and police documents obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and local CBS affiliate KLAS describe how Thrift's 14-month-old daughter, Evangelina Thrift, was allegedly living in "deplorable" conditions at the young mother's home in Henderson before she died in March.

During a search of Thrift's home, police investigators found a baby's bassinet and crib that "had dried vomit all over it, as did a car seat that was on the ground," according to a police report.

"Essentially, the living conditions inside Alivia's apartment were very unsanitary and demonstrated signs of clear neglect," the report said, according to KLAS. Insects were also observed in the residence, with police reportedly testifying during Thrift's grand jury hearing last month that Evangelina, who went by Eva, was covered in bug bites.

Shaller allegedly told grand jurors that Eva died of starvation and that her organs showed signs of severe malnourishment. She also suffered from dehydration and had a permanently "sucked in" abdomen, Shaller said.

Eva was allegedly covered in sores, as well, when she died. Shaller said they were likely caused by the child lying in her own body waste and decaying milk.

"This is most consistent due to the location and the appearance with some degree of chemical injury, whether it be laying in feces, urine, vomit, decaying milk, all these substances are caustic and can cause chemical burn-type injury to the skin," Shaller testified, noting how Eva's sores showed she had been lying in her own body waste and rotten milk for long periods of time.

Eva's father lives in Arizona, and he told the Review-Journal that Thrift wanted to raise Eva on her own. The two of them were friends when Eva was born and weren't dating.

Thrift's half-sister, Robin Yager, reportedly told grand jurors that Eva was often in wet clothing due to her repeatedly spitting up her baby formula. Yager said she tried to tell Thrift that a milk allergy could be to blame, but Thrift allegedly refused to change Eva's milk.

The day before Eva died on March 24, Yager reportedly told grand jurors that Thrift knew her baby girl was suffering, but she refused to get help or take her to the hospital. She had also allegedly refused to take Eva to the doctor in the past.

"She's still refusing to call 911," Yager testified, according to the Review-Journal. "She's still refusing to take her to the doctor."

Yager said she went to Thrift's apartment during the early morning hours of March 24 to try to get her to take Eva to the hospital. Thrift refused to let Yager inside her home and instead brought Eva out to Yager.

"[Eva] was completely pale colored, maybe even a light blue hue to her, just very grayish color and her lips were the deepest purple that I've seen and so I knew immediately she was deceased," Yager reportedly told grand jurors.

Yager called 911 around 3:30 a.m. and officers arrived on scene to find Eva dead. Thrift was charged days later with child abuse, neglect or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm. She received a murder charge after Eva's autopsy was conducted.

"I wish I could go back in time and save both of them and get her whatever help she needs, but none of that's possible," Yager reportedly told grand jurors. "I can't help save Eva from the torture she must have endured and the suffering she went through and nothing at this point is going to be able to help Alivia face what she needs to face."

Thrift is set to go on trial in March 2027. Her next court appearance, a trial readiness hearing, is scheduled for Oct. 22.