VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The body of a 5-year-old girl was recovered from the Wabash River on Thursday in Vincennes and a Vincennes woman is now facing criminal charges, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
They said that at 2:40 p.m. on Thursday, Knox County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a child who had been playing in the Wabash River at Kimmel Park had gone missing.
It took multiple agencies using boats, sonar, and divers to find the child’s body at 7:14 p.m.
DNR said their investigation led to the arrest of Deonna Postin-Hollingsworth, 26, for a charge of neglect of a dependent.
“Through the investigation it was determined that there was enough evidence to show that she was in charge of the child at the time and that the child was put into a situation that threatened its life or health,” said Indiana DNR Conservation Officer Joe Haywood.
What investigators say happened
A probable cause affidavit filed in Knox County Court shows that Postin-Hollingsworth told police that she is the stepmother of three children, a six-year-old and twin 5-year-olds. The woman told investigators that they had intended to get in the water and wade around near the boat ramp and that the five year old had told her she could swim. Postin-Hollingsworth said she then lost sight of the girl.
The children’s mother told police that it was well known the children could not swim.
When speaking with investigators about what happened, conservation officers noted the smell of alcohol, and said her story varied several times and she was displaying erratic behaviors.
“Detective Kody Waggoner informed me that he had responded initially and witnessed Deonna Postin vomit. When doing so he smelled the odor of alcoholic beverage,” Conservation Officer Stinson wrote. “Her movements seemed erratic, and she was visibly distraught and upset. She made comments such as “I killed her” while we were speaking.”
A neighbor later told investigators that she had witnessed Postin-Hollingsworth swaying when conversing with other neighbors that morning and said she observed the woman leaving in an SUV with the children and said she almost struck a parked car while doing so.
At 7:47 p.m., Postin-Hollingsworth was given a blood toxicology test at Good Samaritan Hospital.
“They provided a preliminary blood alcohol content on 6/6/24 at 19:47 of 199.9 mg/dl of alcohol in Postin’s blood,” Conservation Officer Stinson wrote. That equates to a BAC of .199%, the legal limit in Indiana is .08%.
DNR was assisted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Vincennes City Police, Vincennes University Police, Indiana State Police, Vincennes Township Fire, Knox County EMA, and local EMS for their assistance in the search and investigation.
