The recent tragic death of three (3) year old, Taranova Glick is a grim reminder that we live in a world where children and their needs are not always placed at the top of the list in every household. This morning, I authorized the filing of formal charges against Dusty L. James and Chad E. Strong for their relative roles in the senseless death of James’ three (3) year old daughter Taranova. Strong and James have each been charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, as a Class A Felony, as it pertains to their conduct relative to the death of Taranova Glick. In addition, both James and Strong have been charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury as it pertains to Taranova’s twenty-one (21) month old brother Israel, based upon information developed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department in their investigation into the death of Taranova. Strong has been further charged with the offense of Battery Upon a Child Resulting in Death, as a Class A Felony. These charges have been filed in the Elkhart Superior Court No. 3 and my office will work vigorously to address accountability for the death of Taranova and the alleged apparent abuse of Israel. In addition to those charges, I have also authorized the filing of formal charges in the Elkhart Superior Court No. 3 in two (2) other cases. On the 23 rd day of May, 2004, officers of the Goshen Police Department were dispatched to 1603 West Avenue, Goshen, Indiana whereupon on their arrival it was determined that Jordan Rogers, age five (5) weeks old, was in full arrest. Paramedics who arrived at the home and physicians at the Goshen General Hospital attempted to revive young Jordan to no avail. The Elkhart County Coroner ruled Jordan’s death to be the result of asphyxiation. The Goshen Police Department conducted an investigation into Jordan’s death and it was as a result of that investigation that it was determined that prior to her death, Jordan had been in the care of her mother, Kathleen Rogers, age thirty-seven (37), who had brought Jordan onto the couch with her as she slept in the early morning hours of the 23 rd of May. Several hours later, Jordan was discovered to be unresponsive as she was found face down between her mother’s legs while her mother was still asleep on the couch. The subsequent tests and the investigation by the Goshen Police Department revealed that Ms. Rogers was under the influence of alcohol at the time she brought Jordan onto the couch and fell asleep. Ms. Rogers will now face criminal charges for Neglect of a Dependent as a Class B Felony in the Elkhart Superior Court No. 3. We have requested a warrant for her arrest. A third case involving the death of a child was brought to our attention by request of the Goshen Police Department to review a matter which had occurred in August of 2001. This matter had been previously reviewed by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2001 and charges were not filed at that time. I was asked to consider the matter in light of the position that my office has taken on similar facts, and given that this case involved the death of a child, we reopened the case for further examination and review. Upon review we determined that on or about the 5 th day of August, 2001, officers of the Goshen Police Department were called to investigate the apparent drowning death of seven (7) month old infant, Seth O. Shaw, of 305 South Seventh Street, Goshen, Indiana. Upon arrival at the Goshen General Hospital, Seth Shaw was pronounced dead. The Goshen Police Department investigation determined that the infant’s parents, Tamrita S. Shaw and Patrick Shaw, were home at the time of his death. Mr. Shaw had been outside of the residence doing yard work while the baby was inside with Mrs. Shaw. The investigation determined that Mrs. Shaw had placed the seven (7) month old infant into a bathtub, filled with approximately six (6) or seven (7) inches of water and left the bathroom, leaving the child unattended. The Goshen Police Department further determined that Mrs. Shaw was vacuuming and doing other housework during the period of time that the child was unattended and that approximately ten (10) minutes elapsed before she went back into the bathroom to check on Seth. During the time that the infant was unsupervised, he had apparently fallen face down into the water in the bathtub and drowned. Today I have authorized the filing of formal charges against Tamrita S. Shaw, date of birth February 11, 1972, for the offense of Neglect of a Dependent, as a Class B Felony, as the result of her actions and conduct relative to the death of Seth O. Shaw. A warrant has been requested for her arrest. These cases all have a common and regrettable thread between them. A baby is dead that didn’t have to be. While accidents do happen and accidents can result in tragic consequences, this community demands a higher standard of conduct as it pertains to children and the safety of children. Carelessness breeds carelessness and children must be cared for and protected against direct physical abuse as well as indirect abuse from neglect. When a child dies, something is wrong. We live in a civilized society where the mortality rates for children are at a point where children have the greatest opportunity to be born into a healthy happy environment. And while children do unfortunately become the victims of tragic accidents as well as sometimes fatal illnesses, preventable deaths must be addressed by this community. My office takes the position that if a child dies, we want answers and we demand accountability. In going forward with these charges and the others that may follow, we will be asking this community to determine the standard of accountability for the needless deaths of children.