An Indiana mother, Cheyenne Hill, 34, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for neglecting her 20-month-old daughter, Elliaunna Plummer, leading to the child’s death. Hill was found guilty of neglect of a dependent resulting in death by a Lawrence County jury in February. Judge John Plummer III handed down the sentence earlier this week, following the tragic events of late 2022.
The case has been described as deeply distressing by those involved. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Plummer expressed his sorrow, stating that the young girl needed someone to advocate for her, protect her, and speak up for her. He emphasized that it was Hill’s responsibility to do so, a duty she failed to fulfill. The judge acknowledged the emotional toll the case had taken on all parties involved but affirmed that some measure of justice had been served for Elliaunna.
On November 23, 2022, Elliaunna was airlifted from Indiana University Health Hospital Bedford to the university’s Riley Hospital for Children. The child was suffering from a brain bleed, a broken collarbone, and bruises on her head and face. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries that same day.
The grim details of Elliaunna’s final days were outlined in a probable cause affidavit filed in August 2023. Hill was arrested and formally charged in late September 2023, to which she pleaded not guilty. The affidavit revealed disturbing images of the child before she was transported to Indianapolis, showing a swollen and deformed head and bruising on her forehead and both sides of her face.
In the days leading up to Elliaunna’s hospitalization, two anonymous tips were left with the Department of Child Services about Hill, suggesting possible drug use and almost certain child abuse. The second call came on the day the child was taken to the hospital, eight days after the bruises first appeared.
During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Hill as a selfish individual who prioritized smoking marijuana, eating fast food, maintaining her relationship with her boyfriend, and living with him over the welfare of her daughter. They also presented unsettling comments made by Hill about her toddler, including referring to her as “not a nice kid” and likening her to notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
Despite the damning evidence, the prosecution did not argue that Hill directly killed her daughter. However, they asserted that the level of neglect and harm inflicted by Hill led to the same tragic outcome. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel stated during the state’s closing argument that Hill knowingly neglected her daughter to the point of death.