TONI RENEE MCCLURE | Mother Confesses She Forced 5-Year-Old Daughter To Live In Feces Covered Closet With Little Food Prior To Girl’s Death | Facebook chats expose years of torture and starvation | ALS

Toni McClure. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Indianapolis, IN. July 12, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Toni Renee McClure faces two counts of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, battery on a person under 14, and criminal confinement in the tragic case of her 5-year-old daughter, Kinsleigh Welty. 

In April 2024, Kinsleigh was found severely malnourished and later died in a hospital. Authorities allege that she had been confined to a locked closet and was subjected to years of abuse. At the time of her death, Kinsleigh weighed only 21 pounds, less than her weight at age 2. 

Toni McClure, Kinsleigh’s mother, faces charges including two counts of murder, neglect resulting in death, battery on a person under 14, and criminal confinement. Toni’s boyfriend, Ryan Smith, and Kinsleigh’s grandmother, Tammy Halsey, are also facing charges related to Kinsleigh’s death. 

The circumstances surrounding Kinsleigh Welty’s death are deeply tragic. According to the information available, Kinsleigh died of starvation and dehydration on April 9. She was found unresponsive at a home in Indianapolis and was severely malnourished after being locked in a closet and denied proper food and water. 

The details that emerged from the investigation paint a harrowing picture of neglect. Kinsleigh was reportedly confined in a closet with feces, deprived of food, and subjected to conditions described as “horrific and incomprehensible” by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief. She was also found with lice all over her face and feces plastered on her hair and feet. 

An autopsy revealed that her death was due to malnutrition resulting from neglect. The case has highlighted issues within the child welfare system and has led to calls for systemic changes to prevent such tragedies in the future. 

Toni Renee McClure’s history with the Department of Child Services (DCS) is a significant aspect of her case. Here are some key points based on the available information: 

• Previous Neglect Conviction: Toni McClure had a previous conviction for neglecting her children. In 2018, she was arrested after a police officer described the living conditions in her home as one of the worst he had seen, with dirt, trash, and moldy food everywhere. 

• Custody and Probation: After the 2018 incident, the Indiana Department of Child Services took custody of the children. McClure took a plea deal in 2020, served 21 days in jail, and was ordered to take parenting classes as part of her probation. She later violated that probation but was only ordered to pay a fine. 

• Regained Custody: It’s unclear how or when McClure regained custody of her children from DCS following her 2020 conviction for child neglect. 

• Family’s Plea for Accountability: Following Kinsleigh’s death, her grandparents expressed that they had reported warning signs of the child’s failing health but felt let down by DCS. They emphasized the need for change to prevent further tragedies. 

• Earlier Warning Signs: Kinsleigh had previously lived with her grandparents twice after reports of mistreatment. In 2018, McClure was formally charged with neglect when Kinsleigh was just a baby, and the child was found to be malnourished. McClure served 21 days in jail for that case. 

• Demands for Investigation: A city councilor is demanding a full investigation into DCS, highlighting the system’s failure to protect Kinsleigh. 

This case has prompted significant concerns about the efficacy of child welfare systems and the protective measures for children against abuse and neglect. The history of interactions between Toni McClure and DCS is a crucial element in understanding the broader context of the case and the systemic issues that may have contributed to the tragedy.

“The circumstances of Kinsleigh’s death are horrific and beyond comprehension. No human being, let alone a child should be treated like she was. These alleged suspects, if convicted, should never step foot outside of a prison.”

VIDEO: Who Failed 5-Year-Old Kinsleigh Welty? 'She Was Handed Back To Her Abuser' | https://youtu.be/eh-xeTQzn4U

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