Elliaunna Plummer, a 19-month-old girl, died on November 26, 2022, from blunt force trauma to the head, ruled a homicide. She was hospitalized on November 23, 2022, at Indiana University Hospital in Bedford after being brought in with a brain bleed, broken collarbone, bruising to her head and face, and a swollen and deformed head. She was transferred to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where she died. At the time of death, she was 10 pounds underweight and malnourished, with additional injuries including a laceration in her mouth, a fractured clavicle, and several hemorrhages. Her mother, 33-year-old Cheyenne Hill, was aware of visible injuries in the days prior but refused to seek medical care and actively prevented her boyfriend and babysitter from calling an ambulance. A DCS report had been made on November 17 noting bruises on the child's face and suspicious drug-related smells from the apartment. Hill was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, fled to Michigan after the incident, and was arrested nearly a year later in Marquette County.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The manner of death is homicide and the cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head. The news article describes injuries "consistent with abuse" including a brain bleed, broken collarbone, bruising to the head and face, a laceration in her mouth, and several hemorrhages. The vital record lists manner of death as homicide with ICD-10 codes Y079 (other maltreatment), S099 (head injury), and T149 (injury).
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The news article states: "She was 10 pounds underweight, and the pathologist who conducted the autopsy said she was malnourished."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The news article describes Hill's deliberate refusal to seek medical care for the severely injured child. Hill told her boyfriend and babysitter: "Under no circumstances are you to call an ambulance or take her in yourself. I will make the decisions. That is my child." Additionally, on Nov. 23, Hill "woke up early and saw the bruising on her face, but she 'did not feel it was serious enough to call an ambulance.'" The child had a brain bleed, broken collarbone, and extensive bruising, yet Hill actively prevented others from obtaining medical treatment.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
The cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head in a 19-month-old child ruled a homicide. The child had a brain bleed, a "swollen and deformed head," and bruising on the head and face. While the specific term "abusive head trauma" or "shaken baby" is not used, the inflicted blunt force head trauma causing a brain bleed in a toddler constitutes abusive head trauma by definition.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The text describes a pattern of sustained cruelty beyond typical abuse: the child was malnourished and 10 pounds underweight (sustained deprivation of food), had multiple injuries including a brain bleed, broken collarbone, bruising, and a laceration in her mouth. Hill dehumanized the child verbally, calling her "not a nice kid," "the next Jeffrey Dahmer," "an a--hole," and saying she "used to be beautiful and now she is ugly." Hill also deliberately blocked medical care despite the child appearing "half dead" and "lethargic." The combination of sustained food deprivation, repeated physical abuse, dehumanizing statements, and deliberate withholding of medical care suggests a pattern of intentional cruelty over an extended period.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Cheyenne Hill as Elliaunna's mother ("toddler daughter" and Hill stated "That is my child"). Hill was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. The article describes Hill's refusal to seek medical care, her dehumanizing statements about the child, and the child's malnourished and abused condition while in Hill's care.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The news article states: "On Nov. 17, 2022, someone reportedly contacted DCS and 'reported suspicious smells coming from near the apartment,' including marijuana and 'a strong chemical-drug-like smell.' The caller noticed bruises on Elliaunna's face." This DCS contact on November 17 predates the child's hospitalization on November 23 and death on November 26, constituting a prior child protection report.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "They issued a warrant for 33-year-old Cheyenne Hill's arrest with nationwide extradition on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death." Hill was arrested following a traffic stop in Marquette County, Michigan on September 17 and extradited to Indiana on September 25.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The news article reports that a caller contacted DCS and "reported suspicious smells coming from near the apartment, including marijuana and 'a strong chemical-drug-like smell.'" While the smells are reported by a third party and not confirmed directly, they are associated with the apartment where the parent/caregiver lived with the child, implying substance use by the caregiver.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from this case. Hill actively prevented others from seeking medical care for the severely injured child, telling her boyfriend and babysitter: "Under no circumstances are you to call an ambulance or take her in yourself. I will make the decisions. That is my child." Hill also made remarkably dehumanizing statements about her 19-month-old, telling a Donor Network representative she believed Elliaunna "would have been the next Jeffrey Dahmer," calling her "an a--hole" to detectives, and telling a co-worker her daughter "used to be beautiful and now she is ugly." Additionally, Hill fabricated a medical explanation for the injuries, telling a co-worker her daughter "was born with a tumor on her brain and it was bleeding." After the death, Hill fled to northern Michigan and was not apprehended until nearly a year later following a traffic stop in Marquette County. Despite the severity of the injuries and the homicide ruling, Hill was charged only with neglect of a dependent resulting in death rather than a murder charge.
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