In an incident that occurred in October 2023 in Indiana, a three-year-old girl was found dead in a septic tank while she was under the care of her babysitter, who is also her mother’s niece.
The child’s death has led to a complex legal dispute, as the mother, Jill Humphries, grapples with the prosecutor’s decision not to file charges against the babysitter.
On October 19, after entrusting her daughter, Kenna Wilson, to her niece’s care, Humphries received a distressing call from her sister informing her that Kenna was unresponsive. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, Kenna was pronounced dead at Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana, before her mother could arrive.
The subsequent investigation concluded that Kenna had moved the lid of the septic tank and either climbed or fell in. This conclusion led Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel to rule Kenna’s death as an accident, finding no evidence of criminal conduct.
Humphries said her daughter was found covered with sewage and practically frozen.
The decision not to pursue criminal charges has been met with dismay and heartbreak by Humphries. She alleges that her niece was negligent in her duties as a babysitter, leading to her daughter’s death. She is considering filing a civil suit but wants criminal charges.
This case raises complex questions about the line between tragic accidents and criminal negligence, especially in circumstances involving the care of children by minors. Humphries, also mourning the loss of her sister just two days after Kenna’s death, has been vocal about her struggle to cope with these consecutive tragedies. In addition to considering a civil lawsuit, she is determined to seek justice for Kenna, whom she remembers as a “joyful and happy little girl.”
Kenna, the youngest of Humphries’ three children, is remembered fondly in her obituary. She was described as full of life, with a great imagination and a love for swimming. She enjoyed dancing to her favorite songs, playing with Barbie dolls, and finding comfort in her teddy bear, Ted. Humphries’ recent social media posts reflect her ongoing struggle to come to terms with her daughter’s absence, describing Kenna as “gorgeous and angelic until her last breath.”
The community has rallied around Humphries, with friends organizing fundraisers to support her through this challenging period.