COLUMBUS, Ind. — Police arrested a Columbus man Monday after the death of his 8-year-old son.
Travis E. Tuttle, 35, was arrested on charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and possession of a narcotic drug.
The investigation began March 21 when officers responded to a home in the 4300 block of Serenity Drive, near 25th Street and Taylor Road, for a child that was not breathing. Officers located 8-year-old Lealyn Tuttle dead in the home.
Travis told investigators the boy was asleep up the floor of the living room when he went to the kitchen at 3 a.m. to get some water. He said he then found Lealyn unresponsive at 11 a.m. and called 911.
Detectives got a search warrant for the home and found narcotics, including fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia. Among the items found was a piece of foil in the living room with white powder on it.
Police found a video on Travis' cellphone that showed Lealyn the night before the boy was found dead. In the video, Lealyn had placed the foil over his teeth and was pretending he had a "grill."
DNA tests were done on the foil found in the apartment and a piece was found to have Lealyn's DNA on it. Police believe that is the piece he had in his mouth. Testing on the foil determined the powder on it contained fentanyl.
An autopsy report later showed that Lealyn's cause of death was from acute fentanyl and diphenhydramine intoxication.
Travis Tuttle is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail on a $1 million bond.
What other people are reading:
- Officers fatally shoot suspect believed to be connected to deadly shooting in Henry County
- The smile they get to see every day | Avon family grateful for Riley Hospital for Children
- Indianapolis doctor urges people to get vaccinated as omicron variant nears US
- How to check a charity before you donate
- 'It's the correct decision' | Woman convicted in fatal bus stop crash won't be home for Christmas, family of victims 'grateful'
- 'We are heartbroken': Pageant community mourns death of Emma Sweet
- IPS joins lawsuit against JUUL electronic cigarettes
- Injuries reported after car crashes into AT&T store on Indy's northwest side