Kinsleigh, a five-year-old girl, died April 9, after surviving on one meal a day for almost five months. Her mother, 29-year-old Toni McClure from Marion County, is facing multiple charges, including murder. McClure could receive a life sentence if she’s found guilty.
Her boyfriend Ryan Smith is also facing multiple charges, including neglect of a dependent. He’s currently out of jail on a $50,000 bond. McClure’s mother may face a charge after she told detectives that she knew Kinsleigh was kept in unsafe conditions.
The Marion County Coroner's Office determined her death was likely caused by malnutrition from neglect. She weighed only 21 pounds at the time of her death, less than what she weighed when she was 2 1/2.
She had facial bruising, lice and fecal matter on her body when she was sent to Riley Children’s Hospital, where she later died.
In an interview with detectives, McClure said she began putting Kinsleigh in the closet shortly after Thanksgiving. The closet is in McClure’s sons’ room. The boys, ages 4 and 6, said Kinsleigh spent almost all her time in the closet because she was in a time-out.
When police searched the closet, they found fecal matter on the walls and floors, soiled clothes and food remnants.
Both McClure and Smith said in interviews that Kinsleigh hated them and would go in the closet on her own when they were home. McClure also said she hit Kinsleigh’s face after the child bit her arm.
McClure’s mother, Tammy Halsey, would sometimes watch Kinsleigh. Halsey told detectives she would duct-tape Kinsleigh to the bed at night so she wouldn’t get up.
Kinsleigh reportedly went with McClure to two family parties on April 7 and April 8. On both occasions, as soon as McClure arrived, Halsey told Kinsleigh to stand in the corner of a wall because she was in trouble. Kinsleigh stayed there for several hours, including during the April 8 eclipse.
A jury trial is scheduled for June 24.
