Bloomington 2 Year Old Dies After Alleged Abuse

Last updated on Friday, July 20, 2012

(BLOOMINGTON) - According to Bloomington Police, a 2-year-old girl that had been transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis with head injuries died early this morning.

Two Bloomington women face preliminary felony charges of battery and neglect after one of the women told police she disciplined her girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter by striking her with a belt, tying the child's arms to her legs and placing the child in a dark bathroom.

Sgt. John Kovach says both women, the child's mother 23-year-old Tameria Kline and Kline's domestic partner, 20-year-old Dominique Irby, however, denied they caused the brain injury.

The child's mother called police to an apartment on the 2300 block of South Henderson Street about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Police found the child was having difficulty breathing.

Kovach says the girl was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where hospital staff reported the child had a severe head injury as well as bruising from what appeared to be older injuries. The child was then taken to Riley.

Kovach says the girl died about 2:30 a.m. this morning. Kovach says an autopsy will be performed.

Kovach says at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to Kline and Irby's home on the 2300 block of South Henderson Street after receiving a report of child abuse.

When officers interviewed Irby, Kovach she admitted to disciplining the child several times in the past. On one occasion, she admitted to spanking the child with a belt, leaving welts.

Irby also told police the girl would pull out her own hair. In order to prevent her from ripping out her hair, Irby told authorities she used a T-shirt to tie the baby's arms and legs together.

Kovach says Irby also admitted to locking the child inside their bathroom with the lights off as a form of punishment.

Kline, the baby's mother, told police she was present and consented to the alleged abuse.

Detectives from the BPD and Child Protective Services are still investigating the case.

Dominique Irby

Tameria Kline

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