By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Cheyenne Kay Honeycutt

Noah Wayne Albino White

MILFORD — Two people from Milford were recently arrested for allegedly injuring and neglecting a five-week-old infant.

Cheyenne Kay Honeycutt, 26, 51 E. Camp Mack Road, Milford, is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, a level 3 felony; and assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice, both level 6 felonies.

Noah Wayne Albino White, 27, 51 E. Camp Mack Road, Milford, is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, a level 3 felony; and obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony.

On April 19, officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and a Child Protective Services caseworker went to a local hospital regarding a report of possible child abuse. The deputies were informed a five-week-old child had an injured arm, among other injuries.

According to court documents, upon further examination, medical personnel determined the child had a broken left arm, a possible broken right arm, and several fractured ribs. The child was later transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital for further testing and treatment.

Honeycutt and White were both interviewed about the child’s injuries on April 20. In her interview, Honeycutt said she believed a man who had been staying at their residence hurt the child. Honeycutt said they learned the man had warrants for his arrest and they contacted law enforcement on April 13.

As the interview continued, Honeycutt said she called 911 on April 14 because the child was choking. She said a melatonin gummy was found in the child’s throat. Honeycutt claimed the man called someone while he was incarcerated and said he gave the child a gummy.

After determining the exact time the man was arrested, the KCSO detective conducting the interview realized there was a 7 1/2 hour gap between when the man was arrested and when the child began choking. The detective also learned the man made no phone calls from jail in which he told someone he gave the child a gummy.

When asked about the morning of April 19, Honeycutt said she decided to take the child to the hospital after noticing they were not moving their left arm. She described another child in the home as being abusive toward the child she brought to the hospital, and even initially blamed the gummy incident on that child.

The detective then interviewed White about the incident. Prior to the interview, the detective learned White was on probation for an intimidation case, in which he threatened to go to a former workplace and kill his former co-workers. White told the detective he had 22 protective orders against him because he threatened an entire restaurant while he was on drugs. He also listed various mental disorders he has and the medication he takes for them.

White also discussed the man who had resided with him and Honeycutt, stating the man was mean to the children.

When asked about the morning of April 19, White allegedly said he could see the child’s arm dangling. He then tried to lift the child’s hand by their finger, and the child started screaming. Later in the interview, White said he was unsure if Honeycutt picked the child up wrong or what happened. At one point during the interview, while the detective was away, White began to text someone.

Upon being confronted with inconsistencies in her and White’s statements, Honeycutt became extremely aggravated.

On April 27, Honeycutt contacted the detective about a text message she received. In the message, someone posing as the man who lived with Honeycutt and White stated, “Hey I’m sorry I almost (killed) your baby with the gummy. And I’m sorry for hitting (them) and squeezing (their) arm.”

On May 5, a woman said she received messages from Honeycutt about White and his temper with the baby. She also said White was always under the influence and smoked marijuana around the baby.

On May 9, the injured child had a follow-up appointment at Riley’s Children Hospital, which determined the child’s injuries were non-accidental. As part of the investigation, White, Honeycutt, and the child were also given drug tests. Both White’s and the child’s tests came back positive for cannabinoids/THC.

On June 14, the detective learned the phone number which sent the message on April 27 was connected to White.

As the investigation continued, KCSO officers learned Honeycutt had posted to social media about a GoFundMe page soliciting donations to a fund; the page stated the fund would be used for Honeycutt to hire legal counsel regarding the removal of the two children from her care. The page also used inflammatory language about the abuse the infant endured and included the fake text message Honeycutt alleges came from the man who lived with her and White.

Honeycutt and White were both booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 22, each with a $30,250 surety and cash bond.