Authorities in Indiana have charged a young mother and her boyfriend after a 3-year-old girl was found with extensive, life-threatening injuries—triggering a disturbing child abuse investigation that has shocked the local community.
Emergency responders were dispatched to a home on March 25 after reports of an unresponsive child. When officers arrived, they discovered the toddler lying on the floor, barely breathing. According to police, the child was “black and blue and bruised nearly all over her entire naked body and appeared to have been beaten.”
The girl was first rushed to Henry County Hospital before being airlifted to Riley Children’s Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. Medical professionals confirmed her injuries were severe and “life-threatening.”
Doctors treating the child reported “non-accidental” trauma, including lacerations to her colon and lower intestine, as well as internal bleeding—clear indicators, they said, of intentional harm. Additional medical findings revealed “acute” kidney injuries requiring dialysis, along with suspected fractures in her nasal cavity and jaw. Physicians concluded the injuries were consistent with ongoing abuse.
The child’s mother, 23-year-old Kami Nelson, initially told investigators she believed her daughter’s injuries resulted from sleepwalking incidents, claiming the child had been “walking into door handles and similar items.” Authorities later determined that explanation did not align with the severity of the injuries.
During questioning, Nelson and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Lee O’Donnell Jr, reportedly began blaming each other. According to court documents, O’Donnell told investigators he had avoided seeking employment because he feared leaving his own child alone with Nelson. He also admitted he did not want to fully disclose what he had witnessed, stating, “because I don’t want to end up homeless.”
Both suspects were taken into custody—Nelson on March 25 and O’Donnell days later. Prosecutors have charged them with neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury, as well as neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. Each is currently being held on a $191,000 bond as the investigation continues.
Law enforcement officials say the case remains active, with further details expected as medical evaluations and legal proceedings unfold.
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