INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis City-County Councilor is voicing concerns over the death of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty.
Kinsleigh died on Tuesday after police found her severely neglected and malnourished at her home. Her mother and her mother’s boyfriend are now facing charges.
Indianapolis City-County Councilor Joshua Bain spoke with FOX59/CBS4 after writing an urgent letter to the Director of Indiana’s Department of Child Services. In his letter, Bain said it is “imperative that we take immediate action to address the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”
Bain argues Kinsleigh’s death is the result of massive systemic failures. In his letter, he demands accountability and robust measures to help prevent a future tragedy similar to this one.
“It boggles your mind,” Bain said in an interview with FOX59/CBS4. “It makes you sick to your stomach.”
Bain said he was distraught when he learned of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty’s death. He represents the part of town she lived in and is now calling for immediate action and a comprehensive investigation into DCS.
“People clearly need to be held accountable,” he said. “They need to figure out where they dropped the ball, and it seems like the ball was dropped many times.”
Court records revealed police found a small closet covered in fecal matter, where Kinsleigh was forced to spend most of her time and that she had fecal matter in her hair and on her feet as well as lice crawling over her head.
Bain, the father of a 13-month-old daughter, said this case is appalling.
“The fact all the documents show that she was 21 pounds, I have a 13-month-old that weighs more than that,” he said. “You really can’t wrap your head around how any parent could let their child go through that.”
Previous court documents show Kinsleigh’s mother, Toni McClure, was charged with neglect in December 2018. Over the next few years, it appears Kinsleigh was cared for by foster parents and relatives. However, she did eventually end up back with her mother.
Bain’s full letter can be read below:
While DCS said it cannot comment on specific cases, the department did share the following statement:
“DCS’ absolute top priority is child safety. We are always saddened when a child tragedy occurs. DCS partners with stakeholders from across the state to thoroughly investigate all child deaths in Indiana that involved abuse or neglect.”
In his letter to DCS, Councilor Bain is also calling for a third-party investigation into this case and said the community deserves “answers, accountability and justice” for Kinsleigh.
“The court system failed her,” he said. “The DCS system failed her all throughout her life. And the worst thing that we can do now is fail her in her death.”
Kinsleigh’s mother, Toni McClure, has been arrested for murder. McClure’s boyfriend, Ryan Smith, has also been arrested for neglect resulting in death, a charge McClure also faces.
Another person has been charged in connection to the death of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty as of Friday night. Tammy Halsey is now facing a felony neglect charge. A family member tells FOX59/CBS4 said the new arrest is Kinsleigh’s grandmother and McClure’s mother.
