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Coroner's Office: Girl's Death Was Homicide

Father, Stepmother Held Without Opportunity For Bail

March 18, 2005

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The death of a 4-year-old girl whose body was found by police after a 911 call at her Lafayette home has been ruled a homicide, the Tippecanoe County coroner's office said Friday.

Aiyana E. Gauvin died of subdural hematoma and blunt force trauma to the head, the office said.



       Aiyana E. Gauvin

Her father and stepmother, Christian and Michelle Gauvin, were arrested Wednesday, the day someone called 911 to say the girl was unresponsive. Police noted in a probable cause affidavit that the girl's body had bruises, cuts and scrapes.

Michelle Gauvin told police that she had left the girl gagged and bound at the wrists in a bedroom on Tuesday night, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Michelle Gauvin said she had put tape over the child's mouth. The document didn't indicate who had bound the girl's wrists.

Christian and Michelle Gauvin, both 33, were held on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent. At a hearing Friday, a judge granted prosecutors' request that the pair be held for at least three more weekdays without formal charges.

The judge ordered both to be held without opportunity for bail, RTV6 reported.

According to the affidavit, Michelle Gauvin told police that Aiyana and two other children, ages 12 and 9, were left at the home Wednesday morning while she took Christian Gauvin to work.
                                                                                                                   Christian and Michelle Gauvin

When she returned, she realized something was wrong with Aiyana and called 911, the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Michelle Gauvin said that she occasionally hit the child with a broken cutting board.

Christian Gauvin told police that he knew that his wife had on occasion hit the girl, bound her and placed a gag over her mouth, according to the affidavit.

The man said he didn't seek medical treatment for the injuries Aiyana would receive because he feared he would be arrested on abuse accusations, the document said.

 

 

 

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