UPDATE:
Taylor Abrams has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for neglect of a dependent, with 3 years of her sentence suspended. She has already served 117 days of jail credit.
UPDATE:
Taylor Abrams pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 23.
UPDATE:
Elijah Mills was found guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and battery resulting in serious bodily injury to a person less than 14 years old. He was sentenced to 39 years in the Indiana Department of Correction with a 369-day jail credit.
ORIGINAL STORY:
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Police in Noblesville have arrested two people on neglect charges after a child was sent to the hospital on Tuesday, November 12.
Officers from the Noblesville Police Department (NPD) responded to a call to assist paramedics with the possible cardiac arrest of a 4-year-old boy at the 700 block of Nelson Circle.
NPD began an investigation upon arrival and requested additional investigators from the criminal investigation division and the Hamilton County Department of Child Services after observing evidence at the scene including the smell of marijuana.
According to court documents, the boy’s father Elijah Mills and his live-in girlfriend Taylor Abrams were present when policed arrived.
Abrams told officers that the boy had been having health problems including headaches and falling down for about a week, and that he had fallen and hit his head on the floor.
Mills claimed that the boy had headaches and had hit his head a week prior to the incident and had collapsed on the floor. Mills also acknowledged that they had not taken him to the hospital that day or any day since, according to court documents.
According to police, the boy was taken to Riverview Health in Noblesville before being transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis with life-threatening injuries.
At the hospital, the boy was treated for multiple injuries including “bone growing over muscle due to trauma and multiple bruises and other skin injuries.”
Court documents include the medical assessment by Riley doctors:
“The medical findings are life-threatening, unexplained by the history offered, and highly suspicious for inflicted/nonaccidental trauma.”
Abrams was questioned by police about the seriousness of the boy’s injuries, and she admitted to the boy getting “whoopings” and described “domestic issues” and physical abuse by Mills.
Abrams conceded to a search of her cell phone by police in which a message was found that read:
“I love you but I cant do it anymore. You expect me to change which is fair but you won’t. You are so hard on [victim] and I honestly feel like your going to hurt him. I do not want to be there and see it. Its horrible.”
Investigators concluded the investigation and submitted their findings to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two people believed to be involved with the case were taken into custody after the prosecutor’s office issued warrants for their arrest.
Elijah Marice Mills, 32, of Noblesville faces felony charges of neglect of a dependent causing catastrophic injuries and battery.
Taylor Renee Abrams, 25, of Noblesville faces a felony charge of neglect of a dependent causing catastrophic injuries and a misdemeanor charge of failure to make a report.
Mills and Abrams are currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail.
