LEESBURG - An infant found to have fentanyl in its system led to the arrest of two Leesburg residents.

Icy Mae Nine, 21, and Jacob Lee Watkins, 20, both of 14 EMS B6A Lane, Leesburg, are each facing charges of possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony; unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony; maintaining a common nuisance - controlled substance, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, introducing a controlled substance into the body, a misdemeanor.

Wakins and Nine were arrested but were released on bond.

On Oct. 20 at 5:44 p.m., Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department officer Logan Pitts responded to an unresponsive 9-month-old girl at 14 EMS B6A Lane. Upon arrival, Pitts identified the child, who was conscious and breathing, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Later, at 6:42 p.m., Pitts was told by North Webster EMS they believed the infant had overdosed on fentanyl, a narcotic drug. They also advised that while the girl was in their care, they had to use Narcan on her twice. Narcan is a drug used to counteract the effects of a narcotic drug.

Pitts spoke to a woman, who said she took the infant and another child to 14 EMS B6A for a birthday party. She said the homeowner, Jason Myers, had retrieved some colored pens from Jessica Myers’ bedroom for the children to use. The woman said she then saw that the 9-month-old had been given one of the pens and immediately went to take it away. After taking away the pen, she saw the girl become extremely tired and appeared to have labored breathing consistent with an overdose she had witnessed in the past, the affidavit states. The woman said she called 911 and they began CPR on the infant.

The infant was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for fentanyl.

Pitts told North Webster Police Department to go to the residence on EMS B6A and secure it. Pitts also contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). Officers arrived at the residence and heard people running around inside the home and believed they may be destroying evidence, the affidavit states, and officers entered to secure it.

Officers found Watkins and Nine in a bedroom and detained them to preserve evidence. Pitts also contacted NET 43 officer Tony Schmucker.

Schmucker spoke with officers who said they had observed the homeowners, Jason and Jessica Myers, entering and exiting the home several times and leaving. Officers found that when Jason and Jessica found that officers were going back to their residence, they contacted Watkins and Nine and told them not to answer the door and to hide, according to the affidavit.

Schmucker obtained a search warrant for the Myers, Watkins and Nine residence and the two vehicles in the driveway.

Schmucker served the search warrant and found a list of drug-related items in the living room, in the Myers’ bedroom, in the bedroom where Watkins and Nine were found and in the bathroom. Among those items were 25 to 30 syringes, all used, many uncapped, several uncapped on the floor in the bedroom where Watkins and Nine were found. There were 15 to 20 syringes, many of which were used, in the Myers’ bedroom.

After the home was searched, DCS arrived and took custody of two other children.
Schmucker searched Watkins’ phone and found evidence of drug conversations between him and Jessica Myers and him and Jason Myers.

Pitts spoke with one of the children, who said that she slept in the Myers’ bedroom, where the syringes and spoons that tested positive for fentanyl were found.

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No tax holidays but increased dollars for the Department of Child Services highlight the House Republican version of the state’s two-year budget in comparison to the one proposed by Gov. Mike Braun earlier this year.

Chief budget architect for Republicans, Rep. Jeff Thompson, said both camps found plenty to agree upon, aligning priorities for universal school vouchers and halting several large-dollar funds for the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

“We’ve looked at the governor’s budget and he’s done a wonderful job of setting the framework for opportunity for Hoosiers,” said Thompson, R-Lizton. “We’ll continue discussion with him, consulting with him and look forward to working with him in the future.”

Both the House and governor’s version trim roughly 5% from agency budgets, which Thompson said would be geared toward administrative costs rather than staff or service reductions.

“The way this administration is operating, we’ll do a whole lot more with a whole lot less,” Thompson said. “That’s their mindset and I love that mindset.”

Overall, the House budget will spend $500 million more in 2026 and $380 million more in 2027 than Braun, though the bulk of new spending goes to the Department of Child Services and the Department of Correction. Those new dollars represent just under 2% of a $47 billion budget.

Budget specifics

The appropriation for schools increases by 2% each year, or from $9.03 billion in the 2025 fiscal year to $9.21 billion in 2026 followed by $9.4 billion in 2027. The $160 million for curricular materials is rolled into that foundational amount for schools.

Those dollars also include an estimated $183 million over the next two years to expand school vouchers to all students, including those families earning more than $220,000 annually. Thompson said public schools, where the majority of Hoosier students are educated, could get those dollars if they attract those high-income students.

“If they attract more students, they will get a lot more money. It’s a good thing, because we may have some schools really gaining students and they’ll receive a lot more funds and they’ll have those to spend,” Thompson said.

That philosophy hews closely to Braun, who is a vocal “school choice” advocate. The budget also increases both Education Scholarship Accounts and Career Scholarship Accounts from $10 million to $15 million each year.

But while Braun had identified $700 million in tax relief, much of those dollars won’t carry over to the House’s version. Tax holidays for school and youth athletic supplies as well as outdoor recreational equipment didn’t survive and neither did a proposal to eliminate state income taxes on tips and retirement income.

The House did double the tax credit for low-income seniors. About 335,000 Hoosiers earning under $40,000 qualified for the $500 credit in 2022, which will double to $1,000 under this budget.

Thompson pointed to the General Assembly’s commitment to lowering Indiana’s income taxes to 2.9% by 2027 as well as ongoing property tax relief negotiations. More tax relief isn’t off the table, he said.

Identifying cuts

Both Braun and House Republicans struck funds for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., including a site acquisition and deal closing line items — though Thompson said the quasi-public state agency wouldn’t be barred from such activities within their own budget.

The caucus did, however, restore funding for the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and the Manufacturing Readiness Grants that Braun had cut. They will be flatlined to the same amounts from the last budget.

In a blow to the state’s local public health departments, funding for Health First Indiana will fall from $150 million this year to $100 million in both 2026 and 2027. Prior to its implementation, Indiana spent some of the least amount of state dollars on public health initiatives nationwide.

Additionally, House Republicans opted not to appropriate more funding to eliminate Medicaid waiver waitlists for services.

“Nothing changes with regard to where we sit now,” said Thompson about Medicaid waitlists.

Medicaid is the second-largest and fastest-growing portion of the state budget, accounting for 22% of state spending — or $10.3 billion — over the next biennium.

Fifteen years ago, Medicaid made up just 9% of the state budget.

The state partners with the federal government to administer Medicaid, with roughly one-third of Medicaid expenses coming from the state’s budget. But the funding from the federal government could be at risk, depending on the actions of the new administration.

“We are watching that closely and continue to watch that. We can’t control that, you know, but we’ll keep our eye on that because that, at some point, may have an effect on the state,” Thompson said.

Whether to reserve more in savings to prepare for such uncertainty was an “ongoing discussion,” he said.

A separate waitlist for subsidized child care will also remain in place, though Thompson said the budget appropriates dollars to keep current participating families covered.

The House version includes very little in terms of one-time spending, especially for capital projects. Federal pandemic funds boosted such spending in recent years, including a multi-billion dollar prison in northern Indiana.

“No capital (projects) for universities, but there are a lot of dollars for maintenance. We believe it becomes dead if you don’t take care of your current facilities and we put a lot of dollars into taking care of those facilities,” Thompson said.

Overall higher education funding remains relatively flat compared to previous year but higher than the amount budgeted under Braun’s version.

The Senate will introduce its own version in the coming weeks, with both sides negotiating a final budget in mid-April following an updated revenue forecast.

“I’m going to say nothing’s off the table. But from what I know, (with) a lot of those things, we probably won’t see a lot of change,” Thompson said. “This would be, I think, a good place for the Senate to start. They’ll improve it — we know that — and then we’ll work with the governor’s office to make it the best for Hoosiers.”

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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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By Whitney Downard
and Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

Despite being a top priority for new Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Republican leaders in the General Assembly seem to be taking a more cautious approach to new state tax relief in budget discussions.

“I really appreciate the governor kind of leaning in and and, you know, he wants to do more with less. He wants to make sure Hoosiers keep more of their money,” said House Speaker Todd Huston.

But he pointed to an existing income tax phase-down already in law as a priority and noted some agencies — such as the Department of Child Services — that will need additional funding. The state’s income tax will continue to fall over the next two years, hitting a low of 2.9% in 2027.

Another bill would extend the gradually falling rate so long as the state’s economic conditions hold steady.

“We’re going to be cautious. I mean really, really cautious … there’s a lot of uncertainties right now,” said Huston, R-Fishers. “It’s challenging and probably a little less frills, more vanilla.”

In contrast to the flush budgets during COVID-19, when federal funds and high spending buoyed state revenues, the next two-year cycle will be much leaner — with discussions centered around warring priorities. With less than one month as the state’s top leader, Braun has vowed to usher in a new era of austerity, curbing agency spending while simultaneously granting widespread tax relief.

In addition to a property tax proposal that could save Hoosiers more than $1 billion collectively, his budget includes several income tax relief proposals:

• Inflation-adjusted income tax deductions
• Eliminating the tax on retirement income
• Stopping the tax on tips
• A farming tax credit
• Instituting sales tax holidays for school supplies and outdoor equipment.

The cuts would reduce state tax revenue by $696 million over the two years of the budget. To pay for that, Braun reduced various categories of state agency spending.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Rodric Bray called Braun’s budget “aspirational,” and said he appreciated the leadership.

“There are challenges. DCS continues to be a challenge,” said the Martinsville Republican.

Bray said the DCS budget had to be augmented to finish out this fiscal year and that might have to continue in the next two years.

“And so those types of things are going to make it hard to accommodate those tax cuts. We’d love to be able to do it, but there are some challenges with that,” he said.

Huston, who has played a role in crafting four previous budgets, said this budget was the “most challenging.” While the first year has some moderate revenue growth, the second budget year has almost no additional dollars coming into state coffers — even as Medicaid and other expenses continue to grow.

Additionally, the new Trump administration in Washington D.C. is adding uncertainty, as large portions of the state’s budget depends on dollars flowing from federal coffers. Changes to Medicaid or education funding, for example, would have a large impact on how the state delivers on its promised services.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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Fractured ribs, head injuries, accidental drownings and gunshot wounds. This is a glimpse at how 56 children died from abuse and neglect in 2023.

The Indiana Department of Child Services released its annual report on child deaths on New Year’s Eve. It investigated 261 child deaths in 2023 and determined 56 were a result of abuse or neglect. That is down slightly from the year before.

According to the report, 20 of the fatalities were due to abuse, and 36 were the result of neglect. The majority, 68%, of the fatalities involved a child 3 years old or younger, which is consistent with national trends.

Thirteen of the victims included in this report were previously victims in a DCS case of substantiated abuse or neglect.

Causes of death were taken from state death certificates. Death by weapon, including body part, was the leading cause of death, listed in 50% of cases. Using a closed fist is also an example of death by a weapon. Drowning and poisoning or overdose also were leading factors.

The number of abuse and neglect deaths has remained relatively steady in recent years. In 2022 and 2021, the number was 61 and 60 respectively. In 2020, 50 children died from abuse and neglect.
DCS reviews all child fatalities that meet the following circumstances:

• For children under 3 years of age: The death is sudden, unexpected or unexplained, or involves allegations of abuse and neglect.
• For children aged 3 or older: The death involves allegations of abuse or neglect.

The child’s biological parents were often deemed responsible for the child fatalities detailed in this report, accounting for 65 of the 76 alleged perpetrators. Multiple perpetrators can be involved in one child’s death.

Fifteen children in Marion County died from abuse and neglect. The remaining deaths occurred in 22 other counties.

At least 10 cases involved toddlers finding loaded firearms and shooting themselves or siblings.

In one case the parents left two children in the living room while doing cocaine in another room. They heard a loud pop and found their five-year-old son dead of a gunshot wound. The father stated he had left his gun pushed down into a couch cushion with the top of the gun’s handle sticking up.

In another case, a 2-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound. She lived with her parents. On the day of the fatality, the child was home with the mother while the father was at work. The mother was cleaning the home and heard a gunshot. The mother found the child suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parents’ bedroom. It was common for the mother to keep a loaded firearm on her bedside table at night, and she had forgotten to move the gun that morning.

The post Gunshot wounds top abuse and neglect report for Indiana’s children appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Pinwheels on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn spun nonstop Friday as if to remind those gathered to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month that the need to end child abuse can’t come quick enough.

“April is Child Abuse Awareness Month ... In 11 months of the year, groups represented here today work tirelessly to mitigate, minimize the impact and prevent child abuse. The month of April, though, is specifically called out to focus on prevention,” said Bowen Center President and CEO Rob Ryan in his opening remarks at the annual pinwheel garden planting and march supporting child abuse prevention held on the southwest corner of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

“It’s universally accepted that for humanity to continue and grow, we need to save space for our next generation to grow safely. We’re proud to be here today with support services, educators, Department of Child Services to shine a light on an issue that we believe is preventable. We’re proud to partner with other passionate advocates of children, parents, caregivers and families who do the right thing. That’s simply not just not abusing children, it’s a commitment to bettering ourselves and the system for children to be able to navigate and grow in a safe place,” he said. 

Erin Rowland Jones, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kosciusko County, said, “We live in an amazing community, but child abuse and neglect still occur here.”

In 2023, CASA of Kosciusko County served 22% more children than the year before, she stated. They served 144% more physically-abused children.

“So what can you and I, members of this community, do to prevent child abuse?” she asked. “Healing and change happens in community and relationship. If you see a family struggling, maybe through financial difficulties or a single mom juggling a lot, help them. Be there for them. Be an ear for them. Bring them a meal. Ask to babysit their children. The more we as community members see a family with needs and fill those needs ourself, the stronger our community is.”

Rowland Jones encouraged people to volunteer for organizations like Big Brother Big Sister, Baker Youth Club and CASA that work with and mentor the children of the community.
Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath said, “I believe the way that a community reacts to its most vulnerable people is very telling about where that community’s heart is. It’s encouraging to me to see these numbers out today in these conditions here to support the prevention of child abuse.” 

She said they know the effects that abuse and neglect have on children in the now and in the long term.

“They’re damaged emotionally, mentally - the way they form relationships, the way their personality develops, the way their very brains develop,” McGrath said.
The statistics of child abuse should break a person’s heart.

“The many sources I see of abuse and neglect, the average is 1 in 7 children. Sexual abuse, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 8 boys by the time they turn 18, they’re sexually abused in some form,” she said. “If the numbers don’t shatter you, how about the pocketbook? The lifetime expense that’s incurred as a result of abuse and neglect hits something like $592 billion. That’s right up there with the same kind of social financial impact on things like diabetes and heart disease.” 

Children who are abused and neglected are 11 times more likely to enter the criminal justice system as adults, McGrath said.

“We can’t ignore the numbers. We can’t ignore these vulnerable people in our community. Numbers break our hearts, numbers make us sad, maybe cause us to pause for a moment. Anyone should feel that kind of compassion. Let us be a group of people who use that compassion to take action and change things. Let’s support the kids in our community,” she concluded.Kosciusko County Local Office Director for the Department of Child Services Sara Cole said,

“Today we’re recognizing that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Prevention is defined as the act of stopping something from happening or arriving. The majority of what the Department of Child Services does involves responding to child abuse and neglect situations after they have already occurred. That said, child safety is our number one goal.”

This month, and every month, she said it’s important to recognize the families, agencies and community for working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. “Through this collaboration, we can keep children safe,” Cole said.

For anyone who has a concern about child abuse or neglect occurring, she reminded everyone that in Indiana everyone is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect. The DCS hotline, staffed by DCS employees 24/7 365 days a year, is 1-800-800-5556.
Kosciusko County Prosecutor Brad Voelz said, “Pinwheel planting truly resonates with our community, raising awareness and igniting conversations long after what we do here today.”

He said the prosecutor’s office continues to “share in this necessary, important and commendable work. ... The work we do is vital in our collectiveness and to protect and prevent children’s abuse and neglect. We all provide life-changing support to our most vulnerable.”

Voelz encouraged everyone to continue together to fight and empower children to prevent their abuse in the community.

Tracy Horrell, Warsaw Community Schools assistant superintendent for secondary education, said, “At Warsaw Community Schools, our mission is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others. When we engage with potential and new staff, this is one of the first things that we teach them because it drives everything we do with those we serve. By focusing on the word ‘enriching,’ Warsaw Schools create safe and sound learning environments and classrooms that make children feel safe and develop positive relationships with students. 

“For the past six years, my wife and I have chosen to enrich our own personal lives as well. We have been on the journey of being foster parents and have provided care for over 15 different children from time to time. In May of 2021, my wife and I added two little girls to our family whom we had been fostering. I’m pretty sure that these two little ones have enriched my life far more than what I have done for them. Nevertheless, they have also taught me that the work is far from over. We learned right away that neglect and abuse looks very different and the effects can last a lifetime. We’ve learned that just being in our family doesn’t erase what has happened and that we cannot just invest a little because the work is never done,” he said.

Horrell said efforts cannot stop within the confines of schools, they must extend into the communities and beyond.

“We must continue to nurture partnerships with parents, law enforcement, social services and other stakeholders to form a united front against child abuse. The need is high but together, we can make a tangible difference — one child at a time,” he said.

Following the speakers’ remarks, those assembled marched around the courthouse square and planted additional pinwheels to raise awareness and promote solutions that address the causes of child abuse.

The pinwheel was introduced in 2008 as a national symbol for child abuse prevention. It also represents efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize the prevention of child abuse and neglect, according to a news release provided at the event from Bowen Center.

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