INDIANAPOLIS — A mother who kept her children in an unsanitary home full of bugs, rotten food and trash will avoid any jail time after accepting a plea deal in the neglect death of her 12-year-old autistic daughter.
On March 2, 2023, Rosa "May May" Hargrave died after being taken to the hospital with an oozing wound on her back and abdomen. The 12-year-old child was reportedly nonverbal and autistic.
The wound, according to DCS, stemmed from a skin graft done more than a year ago. It was supposed to be cleaned daily. But the girl's mother, Rosa Hargrave, and two other caretakers were accused of not properly caring for the child and keeping her in a filthy, unsanitary home.
“It is clear the wound was not cleaned or managed properly,” court documents stated.
The Marion County Coroner's Officer ended up determining the 12-year-old girl died from sepsis from her infection and said the manner of death was likely a homicide, due to a lack of care.
Previous stories detail the investigation into Rosa Hargrave and the death of her daughter.
When police searched the home where Hargrave raised her children, they noted a house in "extremely poor and unsanitary condition." Police found both live and dead rodents in the home along with "various other mouse parts."
The home also had feces, urine, rotten food and trash that created a "malodorous" smell that police said was potentially toxic. Bugs were also living throughout the near east side home.
Police said an attached bathroom in May May's room didn't have running water. Police did find medical supplies in a cabinet but said feces was located on and inside the gauze pad box.
Other children living in the home even reportedly had bug and mouse bites on their bodies. The children also reportedly had rashes, matted dirt on their bodies, bruising and one child was in a heavily soiled diaper.
Two of the kids were determined to be the children of Rosa Hargrave and her boyfriend, Charles Turner. The other two kids were the children of May May's aunt, Felicia Hargrave.
Police ended up arresting and charging Rosa Hargrave, Felicia Hargrave and Charles Turner as a result of their investigation into Rosa "May May" Hargrave's death.
The 12-year-old's mother faced the most serious charges, including two Level 1 felonies, but instead of going to trial in June, Rosa Hargrave accepted a plea deal in early April.
Hargrave ended up agreeing to plead guilty to neglect of a dependant resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony, in exchange for having her more serious Level 1 felonies dismissed.
In Indiana, a Level 1 felony conviction could've landed Hargrave in jail for 20 to 50 years. A Level 3 felony, meanwhile, carries only a three to 16 year sentencing range.
But Rosa Hargrave won't spend any time behind bars as part of her plea deal. Instead, a judge sentenced Hargrave to seven years, but none of that time will be served in prison.
Judge Marie Kern ordered Hargrave to spend three years on home detention under the watch of Marion County Community Corrections. While Hargrave is serving this sentence at a group home or an approved residential placement, she will be ordered to undergo parenting classes.
The final four years of her sentence will be served on probation.
Charles Turner and Felicia Hargrave also accepted plea deals. Both received multiple years of probation after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent.