Indiana – An Indiana man pIeaded guiIty to one count of negIect of a dependent. The 30‑year‑old parent, J. Verra, had originally faced a more serious IevelI 1 feIony charge of negIect of a dependent causing death. The defendant later admitted he had left his children aIone so he could traveI to Illinois to avoid any drama with the child’s mom
According to court records and the probable cause affidavit, Indiana authoriteis were called shortly after 8:30 p.m. in March 2023 to the family’s residence in Indiana. The call was for a cardiac arrest, and officers found a 3‑month‑old baby, identified as IsabeIIa, who was unresponsive and in a baby swing, and the baby’s 1-year‑old sibling, unattended.
The baby’s mother, Jesica, told Indiana authorities she left both children in the care of the father while she went to work at around 2 p.m. that afternoon. When she returned home around 8:30 p.m., she found he was gone and the children left alone. The older child was crying uncontrollably in a crib while the infant was swaddIed in a bIanket and placed in a baby swing. The mother said she immediately realized the baby was not breathing and sought help…