Melanie Emerson
Three-year-old Tatiana Emerson died Aug. 27 from blunt force trauma. Her mother's boyfriend, Rhasean Lowry, 34, has been charged with criminal homicide and is accused of beating her to death.
Rhasean LowryIt's been a half year since 3-year-old Tatiana Emerson died of blunt-force trauma to the head and her 5-year-old brother, TrayVon Emerson, told police he was continually beaten by his mother's boyfriend, Rhasean Lowry, 35.
Lowry had been the only person charged in connection with the case - until Wednesday - when the children's mother, Melanie Emerson, 22, was also charged.
Emerson is charged with aggravated child endangerment and is locked away in the Hamilton County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
She is set to appear in court before Judge Rebecca Stern on May 6.
Emerson's arrest was not the only action taken on Wednesday in connection with the case.
A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Lowry on charges of child abuse stemming from the reports of abuse made by TrayVon.
Lowry was initially arrested and charged with felony murder, aggravated child abuse, rape of a child and making false reports in connection with Tatiana's death. Those charges against Lowry are still being reviewed by a grand jury.
Lowry originally told police the girl slipped and fell down the stairs at the Econo Lodge where he was caring for her, but security footage didn't back up that report. Instead, videos showed Lowry carrying the child's seemingly lifeless body down the stairs on the way to the hospital where she later died.
Police said the head injuries that caused Tatiana's death were the result of blunt-force trauma. An autopsy later showed the 3-year-old had been raped.
Lowry is scheduled to appear before Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole on March 27.
Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at cwiseman@ timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @clairelwise man. Contact staff writer kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.