Overview
- Higginsville police responded at 4:18 a.m. on Dec. 23 to the Classic Hotel and found a 3-year-old unresponsive and deceased, according to court records.
- Deanna Kay Hankins, 36, and Kyle Galloway, 30, face charges of child abuse or neglect, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of a controlled substance.
- Probable-cause documents state the child had black eyes and ligature marks on her wrists and feet suggesting restraint, and both suspects allegedly admitted to striking her.
- Records say Galloway allegedly kicked the child as they tried to put her to bed and that the adults later heard loud breathing, assumed misbehavior, and sought help only after she was found unresponsive.
- Investigators report methamphetamine and paraphernalia were recovered from the motel room, the suspects are held without bond at the Lafayette County Detention Center, and the child’s name has not been released.