A 1-year-old child in Muncie, Indiana, was found wearing a diaper filled with trash and insects, resulting in what Department of Child Services workers described as the most severe diaper rash they have ever encountered, according to court documents obtained by WXIN.
Background
Jasmine Duff, 34, and Shara Stevens, 52, were caring for the infant at a residence on the 1700 block of East Princeton Avenue when authorities responded to a report about the child's living conditions. The Muncie Police Department was dispatched shortly before 1:45 p.m. on Friday to assist with an active DCS investigation.
The Investigation
When officers arrived, they located Stevens and the child inside the residence. According to court documents, DCS workers conducted a medical examination of the infant and discovered an intensely red diaper rash covering the child's skin. Workers described the condition as the worst such rash they had ever witnessed during their careers with the agency.
Investigators questioned both women about the child's condition. The two women stated the rash had been present for approximately one week. When asked to explain the injury, Duff and Stevens reportedly claimed the damage was caused by the use of generic brand diapers and asserted that the quality of the diapers was to blame for the child's suffering.
The Charges
Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, authorities determined there was sufficient cause to arrest both women. Duff and Stevens were taken into custody by the Muncie Police Department and booked into the Delaware County Sheriff's Office Jail. Each woman faces a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent, classified as a Level 5 felony in Indiana.
Court records indicate bonds for both defendants were set at $5,000 with a 10% cash provision. Online jail records showed both women remained in custody as of Monday.
Key Takeaways
- The infant was discovered wearing a diaper containing trash and live insects at a home in Muncie, Indiana
- DCS workers described the resulting diaper rash as the worst they have ever seen during their careers
- Both suspects claimed generic brand diapers caused the child's severe skin damage
- Each woman faces one Level 5 felony count of neglect of a dependent
- The suspects were being held at the Delaware County Sheriff's Office Jail with bond set at $5,000 each
What's Next
Formal charges are expected to be filed as the case moves through the Delaware County court system. Information regarding initial court appearances was not immediately available. Child welfare officials have not released details about the current custody status of the infant.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges cannot be ruled out as prosecutors review the full scope of evidence gathered by Muncie police and DCS caseworkers.