BRAZIL, Ind. — A 25-year-old Indiana woman is facing charges five months after her foster daughter drowned in a tub.
Police say Hailynn Volpatti, of Terre Haute, left 21-month-old Nova Bryant alone in a bathtub May 21 at a home in the 900 block of North Indiana Street in Brazil, Indiana.
According to court documents, Volpatti told police she left Nova in the tub with her two 4-year-old sons to get a drink.
Volpatti allegedly told police that when she came back, Nova was floating on her back with her nose barely above the water.
"Hailynn told Officer Young that Nova always puts her face down into the bathwater and takes a huge 'gulp' of water," the probable cause affidavit says.
The officer performed CPR on Nova until he found a "faint pulse." She was taken to a hospital in Terre Haute, then to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where she died on June 16.
According to the court documents, Nova had been born 32 weeks premature and had several health problems including developmental delays and many digestive and eating issues.
"Nova's past medical history included chronic feeding disorder, emesis, gastrostomy tube dependent, global developmental delay, history of gastroschisis, history of prematurity, moderate malnutrition, motility disorder of intestine, oropharyngeal dysphagia, short stature and spinal asymmetry," according to court documents.
Police say Volpatti came to them two days after Nova drowned. The officer had requested her friend, but says Volpatti showed up instead.
According to court documents, Volpatti admitted to not being completely honest the night the drowning happened.
Volpatti allegedly said she was on the phone with a friend when she put the kids in the tub. She said she went upstairs "at some point" to get pajamas for Nova. Volpatti said she stayed upstairs for about five minutes until she heard her son yell for her. According to police, Volpatti said she then ran downstairs to find Nova.
Police say Volpatti then changed her story to say she had been upstairs for 15 to 20 minutes while the children were in the tub. Eventually, police say Volpatti admitted it was at least 30 minutes that she left the children alone in the tub.
Police say when they interviewed Volpatti's friend, she confirmed the children had been left alone for 30 minutes.
Child abuse and neglect resources
If you think a child is being abused or neglected, call the DCS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556.
If you can, provide DCS with the following information:
Who was involved
What occurred
When and where it occurred
The extent of any injuries sustained
Any other relevant information
Even if you don't know all that information, DCS urges you to call and report if you suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. State law requires DCS to protect the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations, so you can remain anonymous.
There is more information available at the Indiana Department of Child Services' website.
If you would like to help victims of child abuse and neglect, Kids' Voice of Indiana has a Court-Appointed Special Advocate program. This lets volunteers advocate for child victims who don't have another trusted adult to stand up for them. You can learn more about the CASA program here. Kids' Voice estimates more than 3,100 kids in Marion County need help from a CASA volunteer.
