Honk News – Two individuals taken into custody related to the death of a 7-year-old boy on the near southwest side of Indianapolis.
Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a man and a woman linked to the death of a 7-year-old boy on the near southwest side of Indianapolis.
Authorities arrived at the scene of a death investigation at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, in the 1300 block of South Pershing Avenue, close to West Morris Street and South Belmont Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a child who was unresponsive inside the residence. Emergency responders arrived and confirmed the individual had passed away at the location.
Authorities reported observing “injuries consistent with trauma” on the boy’s body, along with indications of malnourishment.
Jessica Ryan, the aunt of 7-year-old Kayden Gavarette, has identified him as the victim.
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Ryan shared with 13News that she attempted to gain custody of Gavarette following his mother’s passing in 2022, but her efforts fell short due to insufficient evidence to demonstrate that he would be better off in her care compared to his biological father’s.
Detectives from the IMPD Child Abuse unit, along with a case manager from the Department of Child Services, arrived at the scene to initiate the investigation.
Authorities have taken two individuals into custody, a 20-year-old female and a 26-year-old male, on charges of neglecting a dependent that led to a fatal outcome.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decisions.
“The neglect resulting in death carries a penalty of 20 to 40 years,” said Kristina Korobov, a senior attorney at Zero Abuse Project, an organization that works to end child abuse.
Korobov noted that it’s quite frequent for a person’s partner to mistreat their non-biological child.
“They may work together in partnering to hurt the child, or one party may know the child is being abused and they allow it. Sometimes, it happens and the person doesn’t know,” Korobov said.
Korobov emphasized the importance of reporting if someone suspects a child is being abused.
“Physical marks on a child or a child who seems to be malnourished. Sometimes, neglect occurs when a child is in need of medical care, maybe for treatment for diabetes or another chronic medical condition, and they aren’t receiving that treatment,” Korobov said.
When you encounter a baby or a child who hasn’t started walking yet and has injuries, keep this phrase in mind: “If the child can’t cruise, the child shouldn’t bruise.”
“This is a devastating and unimaginable tragedy. The loss of a young life, especially so close to the holidays, is heartbreaking for our entire community,” IMPD Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations Kendale Adams said in a news release.
“Our department is fully committed to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable. The safety and well-being of our children remain our highest priority, and we are working with our partners to ensure justice is served. We extend our deepest condolences to all who are grieving this senseless loss,” the release added.