In a tragic incident in Indiana, a 4-year-old boy, unable to walk, talk, or feed himself, was discovered deceased in a crowded basement closet where he was reportedly confined. This heartbreaking case has resulted in felony charges against the child’s mother and her boyfriend.

Angel Lovely, aged 37, and Nicholas Bergdoll, aged 36, have each been charged with one count of neglect of a dependent leading to death, as indicated by court documents. The charges are linked to the death of the young boy, Malichi Lovely.

On the afternoon of March 23, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call about an unresponsive child at a residence on Monticello Drive. Upon reaching the scene, first responders found Angel Lovely attempting CPR on Malichi, who showed no signs of life, according to a report by The Indianapolis Star.

The child was swiftly taken to Riley Children’s Health by emergency medical teams, but sadly, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office is still determining the manner and cause of Malichi’s death, as reported by local news outlet Fox affiliate WXIN. The investigation continues to seek clarity on this tragic event.

Details from court documents shared by the Star reveal that the basement where Malichi was found was cluttered with “Christmas stuff.” It was described as the place where he “often slept” and was “often kept,” painting a grim picture of the conditions he endured.

The boy’s three older siblings told investigators that “he is trapped in the little room” and that their mother “keeps him in the closet and does not pay attention to him,” court records state.

Malichi, who had extensive medical needs, including cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, was found unresponsive in the closet with blood on his mouth, shirt, pillow, and blanket, according to court documents cited by the Star.

Investigators said the boy had been placed in the closet the night before his death. One sibling reported hearing gagging noises coming from inside that morning before leaving for school, but the mother later told police she was not aware.

A daughter who returned home later that day told detectives she opened the closet door and saw blood coming from Malichi’s mouth, his eyes rolled back.

Bergdoll reportedly told investigators he had only been in a relationship with the boy’s mother for a few months and said, “I’m not going to tell her how to f—in’ raise her kids.”  He also claimed he was asleep in the basement and did not know the child was choking or in distress.

Lovely told police she would sometimes put the boy in the closet when he would not stop screaming, claiming she would “wheel him in, leave the door cracked, and take a few minutes to just breathe,” according to court records.

The investigation also revealed the boy had a history of severe medical issues and had previously been noted as underweight and suffering from malnutrition, according to court records. He had briefly been removed from his mother’s care in 2024 amid allegations of medical neglect before custody was later restored.

Lovely and Bergdoll remain held in the Marion County Jail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 30.