Judge finds Indy mother not guilty of neglect in the death of 2-month-old girl

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis mother is found not guilty after being accused of neglect resulting in the death of her 2-month-old daughter.

Inside a home on Burton Avenue in August 2022, police found a 2-month-old girl unresponsive.  The newborn child, identified as Alona Lacey, died on scene.

Five months later, in January 2023, the girl’s mother Dacia Lacey was charged with causing her child’s death.

Before announcing his verdict, Judge Mark Stoner told the suspect she was a bad parent and she was not innocent.

The judge believed she was guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but because she wasn’t charged with that crime he instead found her not guilty of neglect resulting in death.

Court records show the mother gave a lengthy confession in which she tearfully admitted she smothered her daughter in the couch cushions because she was high on meth and wanted the child to stop crying and be quiet so she could get some sleep.