A 26-year-old man from Indiana is facing a potential nine-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of neglecting his two young children, one of whom, a three-month-old infant, was later discovered deceased in her baby swing. Jacob Vera, the father, admitted to the charge of neglect of a dependent, a level 3 felony. Initially, he was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a more severe level 1 felony.
The Muncie Police Department responded to a call on March 25, 2023, at around 8:30 p.m. The call was made from the Bestway Inn at 4000 N. Broadway, reporting a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, the officers found the infant, Isabella Vera, unresponsive in her swing. The first responders at the scene declared her dead.
The mother of the children informed the police that she had left her two children, including a 16-month-old, under the care of Vera at around 2 p.m. that day before she left for work. Upon her return, more than six hours later, she found the older child in a state of distress and Vera was missing. She noticed that Isabella, who was swaddled in a blanket and in her swing, was not moving as she usually would when picked up.
Medical personnel who arrived at the scene determined that rigor mortis had set in, indicating that Isabella had been dead for at least two hours. Meanwhile, Vera had left the scene with the family’s phone. A resident of the motel told detectives that Vera had offered him $130 for a ride to Chicago, which he declined. Vera then managed to get a friend to drive him to Peoria, Illinois, a distance of over 250 miles. When the police caught up with him and questioned him about his departure, Vera stated that he left to “avoid any drama” with the children’s mother.
The medical examiner’s report revealed that Isabella had died of asphyxiation. As part of his plea deal, Vera is expected to serve nine years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December 1.
Isabella’s obituary described her as a “beautiful little girl, with an infectious smile and beautiful eyes left our world way too early.” It further stated that “Bella was an incredibly happy baby, with a heart-warming personality all to her own,” and that “She was safe and loving in her mother’s arms, always with her pacifier and a stuffed animal not far away.”