A TODDLER who tragically died after overdosing on painkillers had lived in “absolute filth” surrounded by animal poo and maggots, a court heard.
Ariana McKay, 3, had to fend for herself after being left “alone and helpless, without food and supervision,” a judge was told.
The toddler died in 2022 at a Twin Cities hospital in Tokio, North Dakota, reported Inforum.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Conroy from North Dakota, she consumed a whole bottle of adult liquid Tylenol, which is a painkiller, as reported in the case.
Ariana showed signs of being sick 24 hours before she was found unconscious.
Yet, the prosecutors mentioned that instead of taking the toddler to the hospital immediately, her guardians, Austin Lester, 28, and Krissy Hinsley, 25, both residents of Tokio, opted to use drugs.
The little girl was found unresponsive on August 23, 2022, in Hinsley’s basement, said court filings.
If an antidote for the acetaminophen overdose had been promptly given by a doctor, she could have lived, the court was told by prosecutors.
But, tragically it was too late by the time paramedics were called to the home, and doctors at the local hospital said she had no brain activity.
Ariana was declared dead four days later, after being taken off life support.
“Because of her (Hinsley’s) inaction, this child needlessly died,” Conroy said.
Court records highlighted the poor living conditions in the toddler’s home, describing it as, “Her bed was merely a concrete floor tainted with animal excrement, an overlooked litter box, and infested with maggots.”
Ariana was “left alone and helpless, without food and supervision,” the filings added.
On Monday, Hinsley pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect in connection to her death.
This statement followed the initial court session for Hinsley and Lester on April 19, 2024, held at the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, where they faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and two child neglect counts within Indian territory.
The charge of involuntary manslaughter against Hinsley was dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Peter Welte sentenced Hinsley to a decade in federal prison.
CRUELTY
He told Hinsley on Monday that little Ariana had suffered cruelty “beyond human comprehension” after suffering “extreme indifference.”
“This child was put through hell on Earth,” Welte added.
Hinsley and Lester – the tot’s dad – were dating, and the couple were living together at the time of the girl’s death.
Ariana had previously lived with her maternal grandparents, according to prosecutors.
NEGLECT
However, after they were accused of neglecting other kids in their care, Ariana was returned to her dad’s care in 2021.
Prosecutors said that Lester and Hinsley had left the girl by herself while they used drugs.
Legal documents revealed, “Regardless of how she came to consume the acetaminophen, Jane Doe (McKay) passed away because Lester and his co-accused (Hinsley) coldly disregarded her condition and missed the chance to obtain medical assistance while engaging in drug use.”
Prosecutors added that Ariana’s meals would be removed before she could eat her food.
BEATEN
Her dad had struck her “pretty often,” according to court documents.
He was charged with assault of a child with a dangerous weapon, after allegedly hitting Ariana with a wooden backscratcher.
Lester has since pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, assault and child neglect. His sentencing hearing is scheduled to start on August 5.
Conroy said that the toddler’s autopsy showed she had suffered multiple blunt force injuries. But these had not contributed to her death.
UNCONSCIOUS
The attorney said that the couple had noticed that Ariana had been ill 24 hours before the tot was discovered unconscious.
The toddler had been “repeatedly” dosed with acetaminophen – the painkiller – “over time” in an effort to “subdue” her, court filings claimed.
She had been forced to live in “absolute filth,” according to Conroy.
Lorna Jackson-Street, the chairwoman of the Spirit Lake Nation, expressed to The Forum, “Ariana McKay was a cherished member of our Spirit Lake Nation, and we held her life in the highest regard.”
“Today’s sentencing represents a step toward justice, but no legal outcome can restore the precious life that was taken.”
Following Hinsley’s imprisonment, people have agreed with the U.S. District Judge Peter Welte’s statement that jailing Ariana’s guardian for a decade didn’t appear to provide enough justice for the dead girl.
One woman slammed the outcome on social media, writing, “I’m sorry, 10 years is not enough for taking the life of a sweet 3 year old!”
Another posted, “10 years – are you kidding? A child lost its life… they should get life since they took a life.”
