Meleiah Fisher, 30, Greenfield
HANCOCK COUNTY — The Greenfield babysitter who officials charged with kicking, punching, slapping and dropping several kids in her care in 2022 had her case settled via a plea agreement Thursday in Hancock County Circuit Court.
Meleiah N. Fisher, 30, 100 block of Rambling Road, was facing seven Level 5 felony counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury and three Level 6 felony counts of neglect of a dependent.
Each of the most serious charges against her carried up to six years in prison. However, according to court records and the plea agreement, Fisher was sentenced to three years of house arrest and two and a half years of probation.
As part of a plea deal, Fisher pled guilty to five charges with the other charges getting dismissed.
For two counts of neglect of a dependent, Fisher was sentenced to 1,095 days with Hancock County Community Corrections for house arrest.
Fisher’s charges stem from a case in which multiple parents hired Fisher as a babysitter but later discovered their children covered in bruises. Fisher reportedly claimed the injuries were caused by accidents or the children playing to rough.
A detective with the Greenfield Police Department was contacted by officials from the Indiana Department of Child Services referencing allegations of child abuse on Sept. 15. Officials were informed the abuse was happening at a local babysitter’s residence.
Officials went to the residence the same day and spoke to Fisher about a juvenile referred to as JV1. The child had marks on him, the report said. Fisher told the detective the forehead and nose of JV1 were injuries sustained from a fall three days earlier. Fisher, the report stated, told the detective she observed bruising on JV1’s legs, arms and back when he arrived.
The report noted she confirmed other kids have sustained injuries at her residence when she was babysitting them. Fisher stated the children in her care “play rough.”
On Sept. 17, 2022 officials met with the parent of JV2 and JV3, the report said. The parent told officials she learned of Fisher’s babysitting through Real Life Church about 12 months ago. The parent noted she went into Fisher’s home in July and noticed a large hematoma on the forehead of JV2. The parent noted they asked Fisher what happened to JV2. The parent was told JV2 was in the bathroom sitting on the toilet and fell off and hit his head.
The report stated that on Sept. 9, 2022 JV2 had bruising on the back, the side of the face, and the neck. The parent asked JV3 what happened to the sibling and JV3 stated Fisher slapped JV2. The parent then described JV2 as having popped blood vessels in the left eye.
The parent then asked JV3 what happens when you get in trouble at Fisher’s house. The report stated JV3 said, “Mom, you get beat up… punched, slapped if you spill something or make a mess.”
During an interview at Zoey’s Place officials again asked JV3 what happens to JV2 at Fisher’s and the child stated, “She beats him up,” the report said. The child then stood up and started kicking his legs and throwing his arms. While doing this he was grunting, the report said. Then JV3 stated that is what Fisher does when she is mad.
