An Indiana woman has allegedly been arrested on a child neglect charge, after being accused of locking her five-year-old son in an operating washing machine.

A Madison County prosecutor charged 30-year-old Heather Oliver with the level five felony  - neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury - in connection which the incident that occurred on the 16th August, according to court documents.

Law enforcement were sent to St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood, where they met the child's father. The five-year-old was reportedly in and out of consciousness, and had bruises on his upper body and scratches on his arms.

An affidavit details that the boy was "somewhat dry with wet underwear". He was later transported to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis for further evaluation, per Fox 59 Indianapolis.

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Court documents state that Oliver told police she got out of bed around 9am that day, thought she saw her son in bed, and then went to the kitchen for a glass of milk. She then alleges that she heard the washing machine filling up, and saw the boy in the machine.

She claims she pushed the stop button, and "yanked" the boy out, before he proceeded to vomit. Instead of calling 911, Oliver called the boy's father, who was at work, and asked him to come home. The father says that when he arrived, Oliver was with their son at the back of the home, near the washer and dryer. He said that the boy was slipping in and out of consciousness, with his eyes rolling back, and that he was "soaking wet".

Rather than call the police, the father, who has remained unidentified, drove his son to the hospital because he said it would be quicker.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Madison County Sheriff's Department]]

In a forensic interview with the boy, the boy was questioned whether his mother was "nice" and he replied that she is "not nice", per court documents. Otherwise, he did not speak any more about the washing machine incident.

Oliver had an initial hearing on the 19th December, and was released on bond the following day, according to online court records.

A couple from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with murder after their adopted toddler son passed away from an alleged series of "exorcisms".

As reported by NBC News, the Surry County Sheriff’s Office said the police received a call on January 6 from Child Protective Services about a child who had been rushed to the hospital after suffering from a "medical emergency" the previous day.

The child in question was four-year-old Skyler Wilson and he tragically died on January 9 "from injuries related to the abuse sustained by his parents," authorities said, per the outlet.

On January 13, parents Joseph Wilson, 41, and Jodi Wilson, 38, were taken into custody and are now being held at the Surry County Detention Center under no bond for the alleged abuse they inflicted on the boy, according to a press release from the police.

Read the press release below:

"This is a tragic event that resulted in the death of a precious child way too soon," Sheriff Steve C. Hiatt said in his statement. "Please remember the other siblings involved in this situation as well as the investigators who worked tirelessly on this case in your thoughts and prayers."

The sheriff's office has revealed that the Wilsons have two biological children and were foster parents to two other children. The children have now been sent to the Department of Social Services, as noted by Mount Airy News.

According to People, documents disclosed that the father allegedly received a text message from his wife about how she was having trouble with "swaddling" Skyler.

She allegedly also sent a picture of the toddler "wrapped in a sheet or a blanket face-down on the Wilsons' living room floor with duct tape attaching him to the floor".

This prompted Joseph to call 911 to report that Skyler was having a seizure, however, an investigator reportedly heard a female voice in the background exclaim "It's my fault," per the warrants obtained by WFMY.

In addition to this, the publication shared that a former foster parent of the boy and his brother revealed to law enforcement that a month before his tragic death, she filed a report with the Department of Social Services after being worried for their wellbeing.

Furthermore, the former foster parent claimed that Jodi told her about allegedly restricting the boys' food, isolating them, and performing "exorcisms" which alarmed her.

The police searched the pair's home after their arrest and reportedly discovered turned-up wrist and ankle restraints as well as digital footage that apparently recorded the shocking abuse.

The bonds were allegedly used to control the boy during a "swaddling" technique Jodi discovered from Nancy Thomas - who is a "professional therapeutic parent" - according to Fox8.

Speaking to the outlet, Skyler's former foster mother described him as a loving social butterfly, saying: "He was so tiny and small but had a heart three times bigger than he was." She added: "I want to love unconditionally and remember his smile and the little things."

The Wilsons will appear in court on February 2. It has not been stated if they have obtained an attorney.

Featured image credit: Andriy Blokhin / Alamy

A distraught mother has alleged that her three-year-old son "lay dead for hours" at a daycare without any staff realizing.

Three-year-old Conrad Ashcraft was found dead at Poppy's Playhouse day care facility. Credit: Google Maps

Conrad Ashcraft, a neurodivergent toddler described by family as sweet and loving, was found unresponsive and face down on a pillow by his mother, Tara Williams, when she arrived at Poppy's Playhouse 2 in Park Hills, Missouri, around 4:15PM on Friday (May 16).

“His mom was there at approximately at 4:15PM and found him deceased,” Conrad’s aunt, Lacey Hardie, told KSDK.

According to a redacted lawsuit filed by Williams and reviewed by PEOPLE, an employee at the daycare allegedly used their lower body to apply pressure to Conrad’s chest or abdomen to force him to sleep.

The suit claims that Conrad "suffered a fatal injury" as a result and that the daycare staff failed to recognize when the woman's son "was suffocating or had suffocated".

“He was nonverbal, so he couldn't say 'oh this hurts' or 'I can't breathe,'” the late boy's aunt revealed. The grieving aunt added that his "words were limited" and he had "recently learned to say I love you."

Conrad Ashcraft was a neurodivergent toddler. Credit: Coplin Funeral Home

The child’s death has launched a full investigation by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri’s child services.

The city of Park Hills recused itself from the case, citing a conflict of interest as the daycare is owned by former city councilwoman Spring Gray.

In a statement, the city confirmed that the facility’s ownership by a sitting council member prompted them to refer the matter to the sheriff’s office to ensure the investigation would be “conducted independently and without influence".

"We understand the community's grief and concern. The city has full confidence in the independent investigation and believes that accountability is essential, regardless of the circumstances," they added.

Following public outcry and pressure from the community, Gray submitted her resignation from the Park Hills City Council on Tuesday, May 20.

“Her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business,” the city shared in a statement.

The daycare’s license has since been suspended by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, effective immediately.

According to reports, Poppy’s Playhouse 2 has 10 days to appeal, though its Google listing now shows the location as “temporarily closed”.

The lawsuit also alleges that the daycare approved of, and failed to train staff against, techniques that involved using weight and pressure to subdue children into sleep.

"It's not just one person or the owner, it's everybody there who was witnessing the abuse and didn't say anything," Hardie said.

In a heartbreaking detail, the heartbroken aunt remembered her nephew as “just the sweetest boy. Everybody loved him so much, and he just completed our family, and now our family is missing a piece of our heart".

Conrad's obituary described him as a child who “loved swimming, Toy Story, Ms. Rachel, Cocomelon, and the movie Cars,” adding that he also adored pizza and spending time with his family.

Sheriff Jeffrey Crites issued a public appeal for information, noting that the investigation remains ongoing. “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event,” his statement read.

Community members have since organized a memorial outside Poppy’s Playhouse and are planning a benefit event at The Bullpen in honor of Conrad’s memory.

Featured image credit: Google Maps

A disturbing case in Texas has led to the arrest of a couple after the body of their 26-year-old autistic son, Jonathan Kinman, was discovered in a shallow grave in their backyard. The investigation began after authorities conducted a welfare check on October 14, 2025, and found that Kinman was already deceased.

Per The New York Post, his parents, December Marie Mitchell and Jonathan James Mitchell, initially told investigators that their son had passed away in a hospital, but no medical records could confirm the claim.

During the welfare check, December allegedly informed police that she had taken Kinman to a local hospital, where he died. However, she could not provide any medical paperwork to substantiate her account, and authorities were unable to find any hospital or examiner records of his death. Adding to the mystery, the couple’s son was reported to have been cremated, but no evidence of this claim was found.

Inconsistent stories lead to further investigation

Shortly after the welfare check, Jonathan James Mitchell, the stepfather, shared a post on Facebook alluding to the death of his son. He wrote, "So even at your strongest, certain things can make a man, father, and friend break you down to your core. I loved you so much more than I can express even if I didn’t always show it, but my heart is broken in pieces right now. I know [you’re] in a better place, but it still hurts."

In the comments, he added that their son had passed away on Sunday, two days before the welfare check.

December Marie Mitchell and Jonathan James Mitchell's backyard, where their son was buried. Credit: KDFW

After questioning December further, authorities discovered that Kinman had, in fact, been buried in the backyard. The following day, a search by police and Texas Rangers uncovered Kinman’s body wrapped in a camouflage blanket in a shallow grave.

A neighbor had previously told police that December mentioned burying her son in the yard, which led to a formal investigation. When questioned, December allegedly began to panic, and Jonathan confirmed the location of the body.

Charges filed against the couple

Both December and Jonathan Mitchell were arrested and charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse.

They were booked into the Johnson County Jail, with each held on a $250,000 bond. Kinman’s body was sent to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an official cause of death is still pending. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic and unusual case.

Featured image credit: Johnson County Sheriff's Office

An Indiana woman is facing charges of reckless homicide following the tragic death of her 10-year-old foster son.

Dakota Levi Stevens was pronounced dead two days after being restrained by his foster mom. Credit: Geisen Funeral Homes

Court documents obtained by WGN, NBC Chicago and CBS Chicago detail how 10-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens died on April 25 - just two days after 48-year-old Jennifer Lee Wilson was captured on a Ring doorbell cam using her body weight in an alleged attempt subdue the child.

"I was laying on him and he was acting bad," the 340-pound Wilson says in the video, which has been reviewed by police.

The incident took place outside of Wilson's home in Liberty Township, with the affidavit revealing that Wilson sat on the boy for over five minutes.

Young Dakota reportedly could be heard screaming before he stopped moving and fell silent. NBC Chicago reported that Wilson asked if Dakota was "faking", before she noticed that the child's eyelids had gone pale.

The boy weighed just 90 pounds. Police say a lot of Wilson's weight was directed to the child's head and neck, per WGN News.

Concerned for his well-being, Wilson asked one of her daughters to call 911.

When emergency services arrived at the scene, they found Dakota unconscious and without a pulse.

Home security footage shows authorities arriving at Wilson's home. Credit: WGN News

Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, and he was airlifted to a hospital in South Bend, where he was pronounced dead two days later.

The local coroner's office determined Dakota's cause of death to be mechanical asphyxia, ruling it a homicide.

It has also been reported that - just minutes before being restrained by Wilson - Dakota had approached a neighbor, pleading to be adopted.

CBS Chicago reports that the boy allegedly asked the neighbor to adopt him because his biological parents would hit him in the face, per the affidavit.

The tragedy has rocked the local community. Credit: WGN News

The neighbor, however, did not observe any visible injuries on Dakota when Wilson arrived to retrieve him.

Speaking WGN News, Dakota's former foster father, Hayden Hetzel, said that the boy did sometimes struggle to control his emotions, but that he was taught how to safely physically calm the child. "He was just a kid given a bad hand, but he made the best of every situation," Hetzel said.

Following Dakota's death, Wilson's foster care license was revoked, and she is no longer permitted to care for children.

She was arrested on July 13 in Berrien County, Michigan, after an arrest warrant was issued in Indiana.

Wilson remains in custody pending extradition, facing charges that could lead to up to six years in prison if convicted of reckless homicide.

Our thoughts go out to Dakota's loved ones following this horrendous tragedy.

Featured image credit: Geisen Funeral Homes