In a bedroom located in a house on the west side of the city, 7-year-old Kayden Gavarrete found himself surrounded by a small couch, a dog cage, and a futon bed frame adorned with a Bluey sleeping bag and pillow. On December 22, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police discovered the frail body in that room after being summoned to the South Pershing Avenue residence by the boy’s father.
The duration of his death remains uncertain, yet the coroner observed that rigor mortis was beginning to take effect. Kayden was discovered in a state of severe distress, with burns, bruises, and signs of malnutrition.
Kevin Gavarrete, the boy’s father, along with his intermittent girlfriend, Julia Sizemore, is confronting initial charges related to neglect that led to a tragic death. The pair has been in a relationship for three years and are the proud parents of two daughters, both under the age of two. When Kayden passed away, they were not in a relationship, although Sizemore occasionally spent time at Kayden’s home.
An affidavit outlining probable cause reveals shocking information about Kayden’s last weeks and his death, igniting anger among those who believed they were prevented from ensuring the boy’s well-being.
“Unfortunately, Kevin kept him away from his mother’s side of the family,” expressed Jessica Ryan, a great aunt of Kayden from that side. In May 2022, Tamara Mason, the mother of the boy, passed away.
For numerous family members of Mason, her passing signified the final moment they would encounter Kayden in this life.
Ryan revealed that her family was unaware of the abuse Kayden endured until it was already too late. The child had been receiving education at home since the start of the academic year, according to his father’s statement to the authorities.
Investigators quickly observed that Kayden bore numerous bruises, cuts, scabs, and what seemed to be tiny burn marks on his face and body. He seemed to be in a state of extreme malnutrition and was significantly underweight.