Indy mother arrested for child neglect while on probation for deadly case of child neglect

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis mother is in jail accused of child neglect for the second time.




Court records show the suspect was on probation for a deadly case of child neglect when police were called to investigate a new case this week.

At an apartment complex along Troy Avenue, an 8-year-old girl called her grandmother crying and saying she'd been left home alone for most of the last two weeks looking after her three younger siblings, including a 4-month-old.




According to the affidavit in the case, the girls' grandmother then called police who found the home littered with food and trash and no sheets on the beds. That led to the arrest of 27-year-old Tenisha Echols for child neglect.

The suspect's own mother told FOX59/CBS4 she's not surprised her own daughter ended up back in jail, accused of child neglect, because the suspect got a slap on the wrist and didn't learn a lesson from a previous child neglect case two years ago.




At the time of her arrest, Echols was on probation after her 6-month-old daughter died from blunt force injuries at her home on Renton Street in 2019.




Echols was initially charged with neglect resulting in death, but later pleaded guilty to neglect resulting in injury in 2023.








Judge Jennifer Prinz Harrison sentenced Echols to two years of home detention and two years of probation, but allowed her to avoid prison time for her daughter's death.




"I think it just goes to highlight this is one more example of a larger issue that continues to swirl within the city," said Indy FOP President Rick Snyder.




Snyder said the case illustrates how the revolving door of justice, especially in cases involving children, puts other kids in danger.




Snyder recently called for a review of the justice system following the brutal murder of 5-year-old Zara Arnold, whose father is charged with murder.




"We are failing to take these issues of child abuse and neglect seriously within Marion County," said Snyder.




While the suspect's mother initially sat down for an interview with FOX59/CBS4 about the case, she later requested the interview not be aired.




Still, she encourages everyone to do what she did this week and call the police if they suspect child neglect or abuse is taking place, even when it involves their own family.




Echols is temporarily being held without bond.




She's due in court for an initial hearing on Friday. In the meantime, prosecutors are seeking to have her probation revoked.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/indy-mother-arrested-for-child-neglect-while-on-probation-for-deadly-case-of-child-neglect/