An investigation is continuing into the death of 2-year-old Serenity Wilson.
That’s according to Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman who spoke to members of the press Wednesday morning at the Marshall County Building. Wilson was pronounced dead at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne over the weekend after receiving intensive care for 27 hours.
Chipman says this case has affected him.
“Anybody with children can relate, no doubt, of how innocent such a young child is, and how helpless they are, and how they must rely on the adults around them to remain safe,” says Chipman.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Plymouth Police Detective Leo Mangus was called to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center on September 18th. It was learned that Wilson’s guardians: 23-year-old Shane Weedling and 24-year-old Krysti Lavanway were using the Economy Inn motel located in Plymouth as an extended stay residence at the time.
Investigators say injuries sustained to Wilson’s head are thought to have caused her death, though she displayed injuries from dates prior. An autopsy investigation concluded Wilson’s death was a homicide.
Weedling was charged with Aggravated Battery and Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, both Level 1 Felonies. Lavanway is being charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death after authorities determined she allegedly did not act quickly enough to give Wilson medical attention.
Chipman says the charges were based on proving intent.
“We need direct evidence of knowingly, intentionally to kill instead of knowingly, intentionally to injure,” says Chipman. “We’re bound by what we think we can prove and so we’re going to go with this at this point, but that could change.”
The pair will appear in Marshall County Superior Court for an initial hearing on September 29th. If convicted, Weedling could face between 20 and 40 years in prison.
Wilson’s funeral will take place on Friday, 14 days before her 3rd birthday.
