Pekin Woman Arrested in Death of Two-Year-Old Girl

Pekin -  Detectives from the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg arrested a 30-year-old Pekin woman for the death of a 2-year-old girl in her care.

Around Midnight Tuesday morning, the Washington County Sheriff's Department responded to a Poplar Street address in Pekin after receiving a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.  Washington County EMS immediately transported the child to St. Vincent's Hospital in Salem after deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived.

Tragically, the child was pronounced deceased by the Washington County Coroner after arriving at the hospital. 

Sheriff Brent Miller requested ISP assistance, and Detective Travis Baker and Crime Scene Investigator Phil D'Angelo responded to the Pekin address scene.  

As part of the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence as Detective Travis Baker spoke with 30-year-old Sarah Maire Bierly, the live-in-girlfriend of the child's father, as well as other family members at the scene.  

The investigation continued at the Washington County Jail, where Detective Baker later arrested Sarah Bierly for Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death, a Level 1 Felony.  

An autopsy has been scheduled for later Tuesday afternoon.