Inset, top to bottom: Benjamin J. Tackett and Kayla T. Thompson (Jennings County Sheriff's Office). Background: The area in North Vernon, Indiana, where the couple lived with their 8-month-old daughter (Google Maps).
A mother and father in Indiana have been arrested after they allegedly starved and neglected their 8-month-old daughter, regularly locking her in a separate bedroom for up to 10 hours while they slept. Benjamin Joseph Tackett and Kayla Therese Thompson, both 25, were taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with two counts each of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury as well as two counts each of neglect of a dependent, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Jennings County Sheriff's Office, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) contacted detectives to report a possible case of child neglect involving a female infant. Detectives subsequently began looking into the allegations.
"During the investigation, detectives discovered the 8-month-old child was suffering from severe malnourishment, hygiene related neglect, severe dermatitis, and developmental delays," the release states. "It was determined at 8 months old, the child weighed approximately 9 pounds."
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Investigators said they also found multiple other children living in the home, all of whom were removed and placed with "appropriate caregivers," police said. The residence in the 3300 block of Rothshire Circle in North Vernon is about 65 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
In addition to speaking with several doctors and DCS caseworkers, detectives said they also conducted multiple interviews with the other children who lived in the home before questioning Tackett and Thompson.
During post-Miranda interviews with the parents, both Tackett and Thompson allegedly "admitted to knowingly neglecting the child," police said.
"Benjamin and Kayla advised detectives during interviews that they were tired after work, and at times locked the child in a separate bedroom for approximately 10 hours at a time so they could sleep," the release states. "At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives requested an arrest warrant for Benjamin Tackett and Kayla Thompson."
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime provided additional details about the case, including previous DCS reports involving the victim's "severe malnourishment, hygiene issues, and developmental delays attributed to caregiver neglect without underlying medical causes."
The couple allegedly admitted to missing multiple medical appointments for their daughter and conceded that her weight "was due to lack of effort from mom and dad."
Neither Tackett nor Thompson has previously been charged with a crime in Indiana, court records show.
The mother and father were both booked and processed into the Jennings County Jail and are currently scheduled to appear in court before Circuit Judge Murielle S. Bright on Nov. 13.
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