Docs: Indy foster mom charged after DCS finds 'severely malnourished' children with injuries, scarri

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis foster mom faces felony neglect charges after child services reportedly found two young kids suffering from "severe malnourishment" and various injuries.




Crystal Coleman, 38, was officially charged Tuesday in Marion County Court with two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in injury - both level 5 felonies. Online records show a warrant has since been issued for her arrest.




Court documents detail how the Department of Child Services made a report on March 25, alleging that a 2-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy were victims of neglect. Indianapolis Metro police were then contacted about the report on June 2, court documents show.




The DCS report said that the two young children had been taken in for a routine dental checkup when the alleged abuse was discovered.




The 2-year-old daughter reportedly had bruising under both eyes and scarring on the back of her neck. Meanwhile, officials said the 3-year-old boy's bones could be felt through his shirt and he appeared to be very thirsty and hungry.




Both children reportedly did not have shoes or socks on. Documents say they also did not have any jackets or blankets, despite it being cold outside. However, documents state that the "foster parent's child had a jacket on and appeared cared for."




The two victims were reportedly taken to Riley Children's Hospital. There, the 2-year-old girl was diagnosed with a history of failure to thrive related to neglect. Doctors said she also showed signs of severe malnourishment and stunted growth, as well as scarring to her neck and face.




Meanwhile, doctors told police that the 3-year-old boy showed signs of "global developmental delay" and "significant dental delay" as well as severe malnourishment. Court documents state they identified a "high concern for re-occuring neglect" in foster homes.




IMPD detectives said they spoke with DCS on June 13 and learned that the two victims were placed in the care of Crystal Coleman on May 22, 2024. The children were reportedly removed from her care on March 25, 2025, after the dentist appointment.




That same day, detectives interviewed Coleman at IMPD's child abuse office. Coleman allegedly told officers that the children's DCS case manager did not visit her home as often as they should have.




Coleman reportedly claimed that, while in her care, the two victims were fed three meals a day and "cared for to the best of her ability." She said that at no time did she intentionally neglect, physically abuse or starve the children and that the children's health issues predated her.




Follow-up interviews with DCS revealed that, after being placed in a new foster home, the 2-year-old girl was able to show signs of weight gain after less than a month. Furthermore, the 3-year-old boy reportedly gained six pounds in less than a month after getting a new family.




Reports from the children's new foster parents showed the children allegedly tried to eat scraps off the floor, even if it wasn't food, and often stared at the refrigerator. Both new foster parents said "food was a large trigger" for the victims and that they tend to "eat everything in sight."




Given the evidence gathered, Coleman was officially charged on Tuesday, July 15, with two counts of neglect of a dependent. The charges were filed in Marion Superior Court 28.




Online court records show that Coleman has yet to be booked into Marion County Jail as of this article's publication. MyCase shows that there is an active warrant for her arrest.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-indy-foster-mom-charged-after-dcs-finds-severely-malnourished-children-with-injuries-scarring/