MARION / GRANT COUNTY, IN — A 19-year-old Marion mother, Shiann Bodkins, has been formally charged with neglect of a dependent after her young child died following an unsafe sleep incident at a residence on North Adams Street.
The case, investigated by the Marion Police Department, underscores the critical dangers surrounding infant co-sleeping and unsafe sleep environments.
Shiann Bodkins was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death in connection with the child’s passing. According to court documents cited in local news reports, Marion Police Department officers were called to a residence on North Adams Street on May 3, 2026, after receiving a report that a child was in life-threatening condition.
Emergency medical personnel arrived and began treating the infant before officers reached the residence and started an investigation. The child was taken to a hospital but died on May 9, 2026.
The infant was identified in a funeral-home obituary as Amarah Cherri Ann Bodkins Bragg. Her family’s notice confirms that she died on May 9, surrounded by loved ones.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to statements attributed to Bodkins in court documents, she regularly allowed the infant to sleep in the same bed with her rather than using the child’s bassinet. She reportedly told investigators that the baby did not seem comfortable in the bassinet and slept better beside her.
Court documents indicate that Bodkins acknowledged knowing that co-sleeping was not considered a safe sleeping arrangement for the infant.
On the morning officers were called, the child was reportedly positioned near the top of the bed, close to the pillows and Bodkins’s head. Bodkins told investigators that she had woken up to feed and change the baby before returning her to the bed.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Bodkins’s mother reportedly alerted her that the infant was not moving or breathing, prompting the emergency call.
Autopsy Findings and Criminal Charge
According to the court documents described in news reports, an autopsy listed the cause of death as “anoxic encephalopathy and an unsafe sleep environment.” Anoxic encephalopathy is a form of brain injury associated with a severe lack of oxygen.
Bodkins is facing a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. The charge is an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
A Family Left Grieving
Amarah’s death has left her family facing an unimaginable loss. Her funeral-home obituary remembers her as a beloved daughter whose life was surrounded by the love of her parents and extended family.
The case is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of safe infant sleep practices. Health authorities generally recommend placing babies on their backs in their own safe sleep space, such as a crib or bassinet, with a firm, flat surface and no loose bedding.
Thoughts are with Amarah’s family and loved ones as they continue to grieve her loss.
May Amarah Cherri Ann Bodkins Bragg rest in peace.
