Indiana Mother Arrested Again for Child Neglect While on Probation

Tenisha Echols, a 27-year-old Indianapolis mother previously on probation for the 2019 neglect-related death of her 6-month-old daughter, has been arrested again after allegedly leaving her four young children, including a 4-month-old infant, home alone for nearly two weeks. Police responded after the eldest, an 8-year-old, called her grandmother in distress, leading officers to find the children in unsanitary conditions and acting as their own caregivers. Echols had previously avoided prison by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of neglect in 2023 and was sentenced to home detention and probation, a decision now facing renewed scrutiny from local officials and advocacy groups who argue it reflects broader systemic failures in Marion County's handling of child abuse cases. Prosecutors have moved to revoke her probation, potentially sending her to prison. The case highlights ongoing concerns about lenient sentencing and the risks posed to vulnerable children by repeat offenders. Community leaders are calling for a comprehensive review of the justice system's approach to child welfare cases.