Indianapolis boy, 4, is found in apartment with body of grandmother who’d been dead for 2 days by maintenance workers

A four-year-old boy was discovered alone in an apartment after his grandmother had died two days previously.

The discovery was made Thursday morning by maintenance workers at The Summerwood on Towne Line Apartments, located in Indianapolis’ northwest side in the 2600 block of Baneberry Lane.

The workers entered the apartment to address a maintenance request and were met with an unexpected scene, as reported by the Indianapolis Star.

Police were alerted by maintenance workers. Credit: Douglas Sacha/Getty

While repairing a window, the maintenance workers were startled when a young boy emerged from a room.

Initially believing he had been left home alone, they soon made the grim discovery that the boy’s grandmother was lying unresponsive in her bed.

Police later confirmed she had passed away, although her name and age have not been disclosed. The cause of her death remains under investigation.

Emergency services were called, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The news has shocked neighbors and staff at the apartment complex. Tucker Neff, a neighbor, expressed disbelief, stating: “I had just seen her a few days ago.”

According to Neff and other neighbors, there were no indications that anything was amiss. They said they never heard the boy cry for help during the two days he was alone.

Thankfully the four-year-old survived the incident. Credit: Douglas Sacha/Getty

The apartment complex’s management revealed that the grandmother had recently submitted a maintenance request to fix a window.

Attempts were made to contact her by phone early Thursday morning, but after receiving no response, staff sent maintenance workers to the unit.

Emergency medical personnel evaluated the child and transported him to Riley Hospital for Children as a precaution.

Police have since confirmed that the boy is unharmed. The Department of Child Services (DCS) is now involved in determining his future care arrangements.

“She was so sweet and nice with every interaction we had,” Neff said, reflecting on the grandmother’s kind nature.

Sadly, this isn’t the only story of this kind as earlier this year a two-year-old boy tragically passed away following the death of his father.

The tragedy unfolded in Skegness, UK, where Bronson Battersby, starved to death after his father, 60-year-old Kenneth Battersby, suffered a fatal heart attack.

The pair was last seen alive on Boxing Day 2023, with Battersby sending text messages until shortly before New Year’s Eve.

However, on January 2, 2024, a scheduled visit by a social worker raised concerns when no one answered the door, per Sky News.

The social worker contacted the police and checked other addresses for Bronson but was unable to confirm their safety.

On January 3, the landlord provided the social worker access to the property, where the father and son were found deceased.

Emergency services were contacted immediately, with police arriving at the scene at approximately 3:25PM.

Autopsy results revealed that Bronson died from starvation after Kenneth’s sudden death, which is believed to have occurred no earlier than December 29.

Bronson’s mother, Sarah Piesse, who last saw her son before Christmas, described the moment she learned of the tragic outcome, per the Sun.

“My first question was, ‘Where the hell is my boy then? Who has my boy?’ I got down there as fast as I could,” she said. “I ran down the road screaming Bronson’s name… My whole world fell apart,” she said.

Piesse also expressed anguish over what her son may have experienced in his final days. “I was scared about what he might have seen with his dad passing away,” she said.