Stepmother charged after 3-year-old with fatal injuries found in southern Indiana motel

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An Indiana woman is facing multiple felony charges after investigators said she physically abused her stepdaughter in a motel room last August, leading to her death.

Ashanti Octavia Jackson, 32, from Indianapolis, is charged with aggravated battery, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury and battery resulting in bodily injury to a person less than 14 years old.

The investigation started on Aug. 22, 2023. That's when a detective from Clarksville, Indiana, responded to Norton Children's Hospital in downtown Louisville after a 3-year-old was brought there from the Suburban Motel in Clarksville, according to a probable cause affidavit. That's off Broadway Street off Veterans Parkway.

First responders were told the child was injured after falling from a bed while having a seizure. Doctors who examined the child determined her injuries were caused by "non-accidental trauma" and were life-threatening.

Court records state that surgeons had to remove part of the child's skull due to a large amount of brain swelling. The child was not expected to survive, and she was taken off support on Aug. 24, after doctors determined there was no brain activity.

Mehlani - Destiny Stewart — Mehlani (Destiny Stewart photo)

Wednesday, the child's mother, Destiny Stewart told WDRB News the little girl's name was Mehlani. Stewart said Mehlani was still learning how to talk, but didn't let anything stop her.

"I think her favorite thing to do was jump," Stewart said. "She was a happy kid. She didn't know she was disabled. You couldn't tell her anything."

Stewart said Mehlani lived with her in Kokomo, Indiana, and was visiting her father and stepmother in Clarksville last August.

Family members tell WDRB they trusted the couple to look after Mehlani during an already hard time for Stewart.

"She was only with her dad because my son had actually drowned in Kokomo," said Stewart.

Destiny said Antoine Yarbrough was just 8 years old when he died in July 2023. She takes a little solace knowing he was in heaven to wait for Mehlani.

Mehlani and Antoine Yarbrough — Mehlani, 3, and Antoine Yarbrough, 8, passed away in different incidents. (Destiny Stewart photo)

The final autopsy report was released on Dec. 12. It stated that the 3-year-old "was assaulted," and her death was ruled a homicide. The report said she died from blunt impact injuries to her head, "in the setting of battered child syndrome."

The coroner's report also indicated the child suffered "a significant traumatic injury to her abdomen." Specifically, they found a tear in her mesentery, which is a membrane that attaches the intestine to the wall around the stomach area. It is believed that injury occurred up to two weeks before the child was hospitalized, and most likely caused her "to endure pain and suffering."

Police said evidence shows Ashanti tried to revive the child before calling 911 by placing her in a cold bath.

"It is further extremely concerning that stepmother reportedly obtained an ice pack and gave a bath to a completely limp and unresponsive child rather than immediately calling 911," according to the autopsy report. "This delay in seeking care very likely contributed to poor outcome and is diagnostic of medical neglect."

Court documents indicate Jackson plans to hire her own attorney. Not guilty pleas were entered on her behalf during a hearing on March 18, and the judge set a $1 million full cash bond.

Jackson's next court appearance is scheduled for April 1.

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