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Grandmother pushes for accountability from DCS after death of her granddaughter

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Grandmother pushes for accountability from DCS after death of her granddaughter


INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman says she is fighting for more accountability from the Department of Child Services.

This comes after her granddaughter was allegedly beaten to death by her daughter’s girlfriend.

“Berry was a happy baby. She loved Baby Shark. She loved everybody,” Maria Dingui said.

Police say Maria’s granddaughter, Erieomairy, who went by the nickname “Berry,” died after being found critically injured in a hotel room at the La Quinta Inn, located in the 2300 block of Post Drive, in May 2022.

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“I remember that day. It was raining, but I didn’t even feel the rain coming down because I was so angry,” Maria said.

This week, 24-year-old Iesha Bryant was arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Battery and Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death.

According to court documents, Berry’s mother told police what happened. She said the night her daughter died, she saw Bryant punch the toddler in the stomach, which made her fall back and hit her head on the edge of the tub.

“Still today, I’m fighting to tell myself that she is really gone,” Maria said.

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Court documents state that when Berry’s mother was in the shower, she heard a loud noise that sounded like something hitting the wall. After that, Berry was put to bed and never woke up.

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“Don’t stop fighting,” Maria said. “It’s been a year and I’ve been fighting by myself.”

Court documents show Maria reported the abuse to DCS a number of times. She told them if they did not step in, the baby would die.

“Keep fighting for the system to change,” Maria said.

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Now she is working to make sure situations like this do not happen again.

“They deserved to be listened to. I’m fighting for Berry and all of the other kids who can’t speak up for themselves,” Maria said.

What to do if you suspect a child is being abused

If you suspect a child is victim of abuse or neglect, you’re required by law to report it to the Indiana Department of Child Services hotline at 1-800-800-5556. 

The state receives 207,117 reports to the hotline in 2022, down from 231,091 reports in 2021.
 
When you call, a hotline worker enters your report into a case management system and determines if it meets the legal definition of abuse/neglect.

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A hotline supervisor then reviews the report and sends it to a local DCS office who may “screen out” the report or assign it to a family case manager.

A family case manager contacts the family and must complete an assessment within 40 days.

As part of that investigation, the family case manager conducts interviews with potential victims and witnesses.

The family case manager will then substantiate abuse/neglect against the alleged perpetrator or unsubstantiate based on the preponderance of evidence.

If abuse is substantiated, DCS enters into a plan with the family or opens a Child In Need of Services (CHINS) case.

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In most cases, DCS needs a court order to remove children from the home, child welfare experts tell WRTV.

The court can place them in foster care or keep them in the home with court-ordered services.

Parents have the right to have a detention hearing held by a court within 48 hours after the child’s removal from the home, and the right to request the return of the child at such hearing.

Once a child is removed, they become a ward of the state.

DCS can file a petition to terminate parental rights (TPR) when they are convinced that the birth parents will never complete required services.

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By law, DCS is required to file a TPR when the child has been out of the home 15 of the most recent 22 months.

If a court terminates parental rights, the child can be adopted unless the parent appeals the ruling.

As WRTV has reported, 60 children died as a result of abuse and neglect in 2021.

A total of 271 child deaths were investigated by DCS; 281 deaths were investigated in 2020.

The full report can be found here.

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PREVIOUS: DCS: 50 children died from abuse or neglect in Indiana in 2020





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Indianapolis, IN

Snow tonight, more potent system arrives Sunday | Jan 2, 2025

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Snow tonight, more potent system arrives Sunday | Jan 2, 2025


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – We are eyeing a couple of systems that will bring us some snow throughout the next few days. Colder conditions this weekend with our first accumulating snow likely later in the weekend.

TODAY: Partly to mostly cloudy skies expected during the day. Clouds will increase later this afternoon ahead of our next system. This will be a quick moving clipper system that will bring us a little bit of some light snow later on this evening. High temperatures today will be into the mid-30s which is right around normal for this time of the year.

TONIGHT: Light snow develops overnight tonight and some locations especially north of Indianapolis may see one possibly up to 2 in of snowfall. Here in central Indiana into the city we will probably pick up maybe around an inch. Low temperatures will fall into the lower twenties.

TOMORROW: We may see a few slick spots early on your Friday morning. With the snowfall and temperatures being below freezing. Look for dry conditions for the afternoon on Friday, maybe a little bit of sunshine but cold. High temperatures only into the middle 20s. 

This weekend it will remain cold with high temperatures only in the 20s for both Saturday and Sunday .

All eyes will be on a system which will be more potent than the one we see later tonight. This one could bring us some significant snowfall accumulation and maybe even a little ice accumulation possible in southern Indiana. Right now the heaviest snow looks to be across parts of the I-70 corridor and the ice accumulation looks farther southward right along the Ohio River. Timing looks to be during the day on Sunday overnight and may linger into early Monday morning. This will create some rough travel conditions Sunday night and also into early Monday.

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7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Snow will continue heading into the first part of Monday. Winds will be brisk as well and temperatures will stay into the upper twenties .

Partly cloudy skies on Tuesday with those high temperatures continuing into the twenties. We may see temperatures fall even more on Wednesday with highs into the teens.



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Jimmy Carter inspires Indianapolis couple to do more for others

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Jimmy Carter inspires Indianapolis couple to do more for others


Many people spent New Year’s Day paying their respects to former President Jimmy Carter.  They placed flowers and notes near the sign of the Carter Center.

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FOX 5 Atlanta met a couple who called him a true inspiration.

“He’s just a fantastic humanitarian and just an inspiration to all of us,” said Tony May.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

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Tony says he’s a presidential history buff and knows a lot about the Carter presidency, as well as all he accomplished after leaving office.

“The work he did around the world, securing fair elections and getting vaccines delivered,” Tony listed. “His post-presidency is one of the best of any of the presidents.”

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Tony and his wife, Flory, are from Indianapolis. While passing through Atlanta, they knew they had to stop at the Carter Center to pay their respects.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

Tony says the former president inspired him to do better in life.

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“I started a mental health fund, and it’s part of just trying to help people be better, be kind,” said Tony.

The May family also worked on Habitat for Humanity homes after hearing the former president and his wife talk about the organization.

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“We took the kids out and started on some builds, not knowing the process, got to see some of the homeowners and did several builds over the summer and got to see two of the homeowners take ownership,” said Flory May.

Tony and Flory May said they were inspired by former President Jimmy Carter to practice kindness and get involved.

Jimmy Carter once said, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.”  Those words have stuck with Tony May.

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“To me, that’s what I’m trying to live by,” said Tony. “Do whatever I can. I have a lot to do, and I use him as my inspiration.”

Jimmy Carter funeral plans, schedule of events announced

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The Source: This is an original article reported by FOX 5 Atlanta’s Denise Dillon from the Carter Center.

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Ryan Kelly reflects before potential last game as a Colt

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Ryan Kelly reflects before potential last game as a Colt


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Colts center and captain Ryan Kelly is entering potentially his final game as an Indianapolis Colt on Sunday.

Kelly is on his final year of his contract with the Colts, and there was no extension signed in the offseason.

The longest tenured Colt was reflective of his nine year career with the Colts during his media availability on Wednesday.

“I think at some point you come to realization, if I don’t cherish the memories I have right now, I’ll wish that back some day,” Kelly said.

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He talked about being able to play with Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski on the offensive line. Nelson has been on Kelly’s left side since 2018. Glowinski was on Kelly’s right side for four seasons and was resigned by the Colts in November this season.

Kelly said those are the people you remember when you leave the game.

“At the end of the day, I come to work every day because I love the guys I play with,” Kelly said. “I love the guys that are in that room.”

Kelly has done more reflecting on his career now. He said there were a lot of ups and downs and a lot of unknowns. He has played with 12 different starting quarterbacks in his nine seasons with the Colts.

Kelly does want to play beyond this season though, despite heading towards free agency.

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“You just kind of come to terms with you don’t know what the future holds,” Kelly said.

Kelly and the Colts will take the field for the final time on Sunday against the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

Tune in at 11 a.m. on WISH-TV on every Colts Sunday for Countdown to Kickoff with News 8 sports director Anthony Calhoun, former Colt Ken Dilger, Chuck Pagano, Colts Insider Kevin Bowen, and live hits from the stadium.

The only television postgame show airs right after the game with Anthony Calhoun and former Colt Marlin Jackson.



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