The parents of a two-year-old baby boy found dead in Indiana have been arrested and charged with murder and child neglect after the child proved to be severely malnourished and dehydrated.
An autopsy on the infant, Erik Reichard, revealed that he had been reduced to eating drywall and scraps of diaper before passing away, with a “gel-like substance” and white material consistent with paint flakes or spackling identified in his colon, investigators said.
Officers from the Tell City Police Department arrived at the home of Trevor Reichard-Hayes, 39, and Katherine Carter, 31, on the afternoon of March 31 after the couple noticed Erik had stopped breathing and called 911 to come to his aid.
The parents reportedly said the last time they had seen their young son alive was at 11 p.m. the previous evening, almost 14 hours before they summoned help.
Perry County emergency personnel attempted to perform CPR on Erik but he was pronounced dead at the scene, prompting an investigation.
Three days later, Reichard-Hayes and Carter were arrested and charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily harm, and neglect of a dependent.
“I could tell based on my training and experience that the child had been deceased for several hours,” a detective wrote in the probable cause affidavit against the parents. “The child was blue and pale.”
They added that the boy was “extremely skinny,” covered with sores and possible bug bites, and weighed just 15 pounds, approximately half the amount considered healthy for a child his age.
The mother admitted Erik had been eating diapers, which the investigating officers concluded was likely to have been due to hunger, according to the affidavit.
Two other children were found to be living in squalor at the property, both of whom were removed by the Indiana Department of Child Services and one of whom was treated in hospital for severe malnutrition and dehydration.
The children’s rooms were found to have feces and debris on the floor, unemptied training potties, and insects rife, which stood in contrast to the parents’ room, which was said to be clean and well furnished.
“The bed was made, there was no extreme clutter, and it was clean, unlike the remainder of the home,” the officers noted.
In a press release announcing the grim discovery posted to Facebook, Tell County PD wrote: “Scenes such as these are extremely difficult for the officers, first responders, and partner agencies involved.
“We respectfully ask for and appreciate your prayers and support for the investigators as well as the victim’s family during this difficult time.”
