BRAZIL — A 25-year-old woman from Indiana is facing charges after her foster daughter tragically drowned in a bathtub. Hailynn Volpatti, of Terre Haute, is accused of leaving 21-month-old Nova Bryant unattended in a tub on May 21 at a residence on North Indiana Street in Brazil, Indiana.
According to police reports, Volpatti stated that she left Nova in the bathtub with her two 4-year-old sons while she went to get a drink. Upon returning, she allegedly found Nova floating on her back, with her nose barely above the water.
The probable cause affidavit reveals that Volpatti told police that Nova had a habit of submerging her face in the bathwater and taking large gulps of water. The responding officer performed CPR until he detected a faint pulse. Nova was rushed to a hospital in Terre Haute and later transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where she passed away on June 16.
Court documents indicate that Nova had a complex medical history, having been born 32 weeks premature with various health issues, including chronic feeding disorders and developmental delays.
Two days after the incident, Volpatti approached police and told them she had been on the phone with a friend when she placed the children in the tub. She stated she went upstairs to retrieve pajamas for Nova and stayed there for about five minutes until hearing her son call for her. However, as the investigation progressed, Volpatti altered her timeline, ultimately admitting that she left the children unattended for at least 30 minutes.
Interviews with a friend of Volpatti corroborated that the children were alone in the bathtub for that duration.
A warrant was issued for Volpatti’s arrest on Wednesday, October 23, and she was arrested on Thursday, October 24. Volpatti is facing a charge of neglect of a dependent, resulting in death Level 1 felony. Volpatti pleaded not guilty Friday, and her jury trial is scheduled for April 15 in Clay County Superior Court.
Bryant’s biological mother, Celena Conkright, says the Department of Child Services failed her daughter. Conkright, who suffers from ADHD and ADD, said DCS removed her daughter from her care two months after she was born because, according to Conkright, DCS didn’t believe she could care for her child’s unique medical needs and was not learning Nova’s medical needs fast enough to keep the child safe and healthy. Nova’s father, Kiven Bryant, said he complied with all of DCS’s requests and redid his home to provide for Nova’s medical issues.
Over 8,600 children are in foster care in the Hoosier state. The Department of Child Services will not comment on pending legal cases but is taking action to revoke Volpatti’s foster license.
In Indiana, foster parents must be licensed. To become licensed as a foster parent, you must be at least 21 years of age and meet the following requirements:
- Attend at least 20 hours of pre-service training
- Demonstrate financial stability
- Complete an environmental inspection of your home and pass safety standards
- Provide medical statements for all household members
- Demonstrate emotional stability and
- Complete a home study with the licensing agency
Child Protection Services History checks are required for all household members age six and older, background checks for household members age 14 and older, and fingerprinting is required for all household members age 18 and older. Once all requirements are met, licenses are approved through DCS or private Licensed Child Placement Agencies.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
