Indiana mother, boyfriend charged in 5-year-old’s death, police say

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - An Indiana mother and her boyfriend are facing charges after her 5-year-old son was found unresponsive in their Michigan City home and later died at a Chicago hospital.

(From left) Halie Lewis, and her boyfriend, Brice Barnum. (Michigan City PD )

Arrests Made in Child's Death 

Charges Filed :

Authorities charged Williams' mother, Halie Lewis, 23, with one count of neglect of a dependent causing death, a Level 1 felony. 

She is being held at the La Porte County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Lewis's boyfriend, Brice Barnum, 32, is charged with one count of murder and one count of interference with the reporting of a crime, a Class A misdemeanor, police said. He is also being held at the La Porte County Jail on a $1 million bond.

He's also being held in the La Porte County Jail and his bond is set at $1 million. 

Police said Barnum lived in Williams' home at the time of the incident.

Pictured is Brice Barnum, 32.

He is scheduled for an initial court appearance at 8:30 a.m. March 11 in Michigan City.

What we know:

Police responded at 7:16 a.m. March 2 to a home in the 2200 block of Normandy Drive in Michigan City for an unresponsive 5-year-old boy.

The child was transported to Franciscan Hospital before being flown to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the boy was pronounced dead just after 7 p.m., police said.

Investigators executed a search warrant at the home and collected evidence.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released further details on the case or what led to the child's death.

The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the child as Augustus Williams and ruled his death a homicide.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact Det./Sgt. Sopher at 219-