BEDFORD – The criminal investigation into the death of Elliaunna (Elli) Marji Plummer, of Bedford.
Elli died on November 26, 2022, at 4:35 p.m. at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis after suffering a brain injury, a broken collar bone, and other injuries that appeared non-accidental. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
The toddler would have celebrated her second birthday on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
According to Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp, the investigation continues. A more than 60-page criminal report has been submitted for his review. Detectives have conducted multiple interviews and polygraph examinations, and numerous other investigative steps have been taken.
The investigation
On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at approximately 12:13 p.m. Lawrence County Central Dispatch received a call from Bedford Police Department dispatch requesting their officers responded to IU Health Bedford Emergency Department regarding a possible case of child abuse or neglect.
It was determined by those responding officers that the alleged incident occurred at Maple Ridge Apartments, which is outside of the city limits, north of Bedford.
Lawrence County deputies and detectives responded to IU Health Bedford and spoke to responding officers from the Bedford Police Department, hospital personnel, the child’s mother Cheyenne Hill, and a case worker from the Indiana Department of Child Services.
They learned that 20-month-old Elli was being transported by air ambulance to Riley Hospital for Children. After learning Elli was brain dead and had no chance of recovery, Hill kept her baby on life support so she could donate Elli’s organs through the Indiana Donor Network. Elli’s heart saved a little boy, her liver went to a little girl and her kidneys saved a 40-year-old male.
Detectives and deputies attended the post-mortem examination that was conducted on November 29th.
