Horrific Facebook messages have detailed years of alleged torture a mum and grandma inflicted on their 5-year-old granddaughter before her death.
Kinsleigh Welty, from Indianapolis, is alleged to have died from severe malnutrition after she was found by police on April 9 with bite marks, faeces in her hair and on her feet, and lice all over her body. She was transported to Riley Hospital for Children but tragically died from malnutrition, according to officials.
And now disturbing messages between Kinsleigh's mum, Toni McClure, 29, and her grandmother, Tammy Halsey, 53, have emerged detailing their alleged abuse of the youngster. The allegations include withholding food and drink to the 5-year-old, frequent beatings, and using duct tape to prevent Kinsleigh from escaping a locked closet she was kept in to hide her from children's services, according to police.
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Kinsleigh tragically died from her injuries (WRTV)
Mum Toni McClure inflicted horrific abuse, according to police (Marion County Jail)The mum and grandmother frequently talked about ways to punish the little girl including locking her in the fridge and cabinets and making sure she had no access to food and drink. In the horrific texts, Kinsleigh was referred to as "evil" and a "demon" and "dummy" and in one text in May 2022 the grandmother was telling her daughter to "put something in front so she can't push the door," when the little girl escaped from the closet. "I already tried that,' McLure said.
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Halsey responded: "You're going to have to keep her home one weekend just to show her you mean business." McLure responds: 'She hates being smacked on her belly just so you know." The grandmother replies "Oh I know."
Meanwhile, in a May 2023 text, the grandmother asked: 'Did you not wrap her a** up?' McClure tells her mother that she did but Kinsleigh "got out". Her mother responded: "Damn, do it tighter."
In a July 2023 exchange, McLure asks her mother to watch Kinsleigh. When her mum responds that she is "too tired and has work the next day", McLure tells her: "Do your duct tape thing. Sleep. I won't ask again."
Grandmother Tammy Halsey sent sick messages (Marion County Jail)On October 6, 2023, McClure said Kinsleigh had broken the door lock and shoved excrement under the sofa. Halsey told her daughter to "tie her f***ing a** up." McClure responded "take one for the freaking team man," with laughing emojis, and a skull and crossbones. She continued: "You do your method and it works. Can't do that here. I'll clean her up first."
On January 2, 2024, Halsey asked McClure if she was watching the kids that day. McClure responded: "It doesn't matter. As long as you promise [if one] of the b****** show up that you make them leave and tell them [the children aren't] there. That's the only thing I worry about."
On March 22, Halsey told McClure that the Department of Children Services (DCS) had "showed up again". McClure responded: "Oh Jesus Christ. I guess we need to figure out a day where you can take Kinsleigh and I can deal with it, but I really just don't want to."
On April 9, McClure texted her mum to say the DCS was coming to her home but she didn't have "much in [her] fridge or [her] cabinets". That was the day officials discovered the girl's lifeless body.
McClure's boyfriend, Ryan Smith was also arrested (Marion County Jail)
The girl suffered horrendous abuse (WRTV)In April, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office arrested Kinsleigh's mum, Toni McClure, and McClure's boyfriend, Ryan Smith, 27. McClure was charged with murder, criminal confinement and neglect in little Kinsleigh's death. Smith was charged with three counts of neglect of a dependent.
Halsey faces five counts of neglect and one count of failing to report child neglect and abuse, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a news release. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement: "These charges are a direct result of law enforcement's commitment to justice for Kinsleigh. We will continue to pursue leads and information and file charges, if warranted, as the investigation continues."
Halsey and Smith are due back in court on June 18. Smith has been released on bail while McClure and Halsey remain in pretrial detention. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey said: "MY heart breaks knowing what Kinsleigh went through in her short life and how she left this world."
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He added: "The circumstances of Kinsleigh's death are horrific and beyond comprehension. No human being, let alone a child should be treated like she was. These alleged suspects, if convicted, should never step foot outside of a prison."
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