A 5-year-old girl died earlier this month, shortly after she was found obviously malnourished, weighing less than she did at 2, and covered in fecal matter with lice on her head.
Prosecutors have now charged Kinsleigh Welty’s mother, the mother’s boyfriend, and her grandmother with her death, WXIN reported.
“This happened over a long period of time,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. “The mother took proactive steps to prevent this child from eating and didn’t provide proper nourishment.”
Mears said that police found a small closet in the bedroom — covered in fecal matter — where little Kinsleigh was forced to stay. The closet was blocked with a dresser.
“What we’re alleging is they put a dresser in front of the closet to prevent the child from leaving,” Mears said, “and all this child needed was a safe place to sleep and food.”
McClure has been charged with murder, criminal confinement, and battery. Smith is charged with neglect of a dependent and criminal confinement.
Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey called the little girl’s death “horrific” and “beyond comprehension” when McClure and Smith were arrested.
Tammy Halsey, Kinsleigh’s grandmother, was booked on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent, Indianapolis Police said. Halsey reportedly noted Kinsleigh’s deterioration but didn’t call police because she didn’t want McClure to lose custody.
According to court records, Halsey said that Child Services had been called to the house in the past but were never able to located McClure or her daughter. Halsey said she wouldn’t help them find them. Halsey also admitted tying the girl to a bed to keep her from getting up for food or water.
McClure was charged with neglect in December 2018, when the then 3-week-old Kinsleigh was suffering from failure to thrive. Police said when they responded to the home at that time, it was “one of the worst living conditions [they’d] ever seen,” adding that it was “repulsive.”
“It appeared the trash had never been taken out,” the responding officer wrote. “Nats (sic) were flying all over the kitchen and living room.”
Officers said feces was not cleaned from the toilet in the bathroom, and rooms were described as “hazardous nightmares for an adult, let alone a toddler and newborn.”
McClure pleaded guilty to a single count of neglect in May 2020 and was sentenced to probation. Kinsleigh was returned to her custody.
Court documents revealed that Kinsleigh was repeatedly returned to her mother after any investigation.
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[Featured image: Kinsleigh Welty/family handout]
