BEDFORD – This morning, a Lawrence County Superior Court I jury of 12 men and women heard opening statements from the defense and prosecution and testimony from Lawrence County Detectives Captain Jim Slone and Detective Sgt. Michael Ramos.
The jury will determine if Cheyenne Hill had a hand in causing the death of her 20-month-old daughter.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Judge John Plummer III is presiding. More than 23 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.
Deputy Prosecutor Sarah Cummings told the jury during opening statements that Hill knew her daughter was in medical need for days before her death and didn’t take her for treatment.
Hill’s Attorney, Robert G. Hamilton of Salem, said Elli was Hill’s miracle child, and she would never do anything to hurt her. He said Hill trusted others to know what to do regarding the care of her child.
“Cheyenne is not responsible,’ he added. “She did what she thought was best.”
Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel presented evidence in the case gathered by Detective Jim Slone.
Slone responded to IU Health Bedford Hospital at 12:16 p.m., after hospital staff and the Department of Child Services reported Elli had been flown by a medical helicopter to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Elli had suffered a brain bleed, a broken collar bone, and had head and facial bruising. She also had a swollen and deformed head with bruising to her forehead and the left and right sides of her face.
On November 26, 2022, Elli was pronounced dead at 4:35 p.m.
Detective Slone interviewed Hill, Hill’s boyfriend Cameron Fleming, Elli’s babysitter Michelle Barrow, and her boyfriend Kevin Cliff.
Detective Slone testified that Hill provided numerous scenarios of how Elli was injured and that her daughter suffered from Lupus.
Slone testified Hill gave several reasons as to why Elli was injured; she had said Elli had fallen from her bed and hit her head on the wooden floor, hit her head on a table in the bedroom, and had run into a countertop.
Hill told the detective she was concerned for her child, but she decided to go to work at PriceLess IGA in Bedford.
“She said she was freaking out and worried and smoked some marijuana and walked to work,” Detective Slone said.
Detective Slone and Ramos testified about cell phone messages between Hill and her boyfriend, Cameron Fleming.
Some of the text messages included:
“I miss her so much; her laugh, her cry, her smirk, her evil doe eyes. I miss her
This message was sent right after she discovered Elli was declared brain dead.
“We are going to get stoned and go to Taco Bell. hopefully, I can feel normal for a few.”
Testimony will continue this afternoon.
