On Feb. 7, a two-year old girl was found unconscious at around 1:50 pm in the 400 block of South Hickory Street. Soon after, the toddler was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

[b]Gardner Police Chief[/b], [b]Jim Pruetting[/b] was contacted to confirm if the death was an accident or a murder, to which he replied that the autopsy would determine the cause of death. He also added, “Until that time, we will conduct a death investigation; it’s still very early in the process.” Following an investigation by police, it was determined that the child was murdered.

Lindsey Thomasson, who was identified as the girlfriend of the victim’s father, was taken into police custody and charged with the toddler’s murder.

Thomasson was engaged to the victim’s father and was residing with both of them at the time of the child’s death. She has been charged with first degree murder and is currently being held at the Johnson County Jail with a $2 million dollar bond.

The toddler’s father has set up a GoFundMe page where he mentions that since the investigation he has lost his job, his home, his vehicle, and even custody of his two other daughters.