Indiana Mom and Boyfriend Charged After Toddler Suffers Severe Injuries

Couple allegedly blamed 'sleepwalking' for 3-year-old's critical condition

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:05am

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A mother and her boyfriend in Indiana have been accused of nearly killing her 3-year-old daughter, claiming she sustained her injuries from 'sleepwalking' into doorknobs. Kami Nelson, 23, and Lee E. O'Donnell, Jr., 25, have both been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and neglect resulting in serious bodily injury after the incident that took place on March 25.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing issues of child abuse and neglect, as well as the challenges of getting proper medical care for vulnerable children, especially when caregivers provide false explanations for serious injuries.

The details

Police were called to a rental home in New Castle, Indiana after receiving reports of an unresponsive child. They found the toddler naked on the floor, 'black and blue and bruised nearly all over her entire naked body.' The girl was rushed to the hospital and later airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where doctors discovered she had suffered severe abdominal trauma, including lacerations and tears to her intestines, internal bleeding, and acute kidney injury requiring dialysis. Authorities said the injuries were 'characteristic of non-accidental/inflicted trauma (child physical abuse)' and could have been fatal without medical intervention.

  • On March 25, police responded to the rental home in New Castle, Indiana.
  • On March 27, O'Donnell was arrested for failing to appear for a scheduled polygraph test, while Nelson was arrested the same day.

The players

Kami Nelson

A 23-year-old mother who has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and neglect resulting in serious bodily injury.

Lee E. O'Donnell, Jr.

A 25-year-old man who has been charged along with Nelson for the alleged abuse of Nelson's 3-year-old daughter.

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What they’re saying

“The child sleepwalks, which would not be consistent with these abdominal injuries.”

— Kami Nelson, Mother

“Kami Nelson is a manipulative liar with a volatile temper, and she would become physical with the child 'once a day, multiple times a day sometimes'.”

— Lee E. O'Donnell, Jr., Boyfriend

What’s next

Both Nelson and O'Donnell are being held in the Henry County Jail on $191,000 surety bonds. They will next appear in court for pretrial hearings on June 11.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, as well as the need for thorough medical evaluations and investigations when caregivers provide suspicious explanations for a child's injuries.