By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Toni L. Reiff

Davin Exavier Lawrence

LARWILL — Two people from Larwill were recently arrested after allegedly battering a child.

Davin Exavier Lawrence, 25; and Toni L. Reiff, 28, both of 1225 N. SR 5, Larwill, are each charged with domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a child under the age of 14, a level 5 felony.

On Nov. 28, 2022, a report was made to the Department of Child Services in Whitley County about possible child abuse. A man with supervised visitation over the child said he noticed the child had bruises on their behind and thighs. Two bruises appeared to be in the shape of the bottom of a palm. The bruises were also purple, green and blue.

According to court documents, the child lived with Reiff and Lawrence. While the child was being checked out at a local hospital, Reiff told Whitley County Sheriff’s Department officers she noticed the bruising about a week prior but didn’t report it to DCS. She said the child’s injuries were either caused by playing or falling down the stairs.

In an interview with DCS, the child was asked if Reiff and Lawrence spanked them. The child said both Reiff and Lawrence spanked them.

The case was then sent to the Indiana University Child Protection Program, where a report was prepared by doctors. The report reflected a high level of concern for the child’s overall safety in the environment where the incident occurred. The report also states the injuries were not consistent with coming from an animal or rough play.

On Jan. 24, 2023, a Whitley County deputy asked Reiff if she could speak with him again about the incident. Reiff told the deputy she spoke with her lawyer and would not speak with the deputy.

Reiff has a prior conviction for battery to a child under the age of 14 from April 2022, also in Whitley County. In June 2022, officers and DCS investigated a report of a child with heavy bruising on their hips, buttocks and lower back. The injuries were caused by spanking.

With that case, she received a one-year suspended sentence in October 2022. A petition alleging a violation of her suspended sentence was filed on Feb. 14, 2023.

Both Lawrence and Reiff were booked in the Whitley County Jail on Feb. 16.