The cause and manner of death of 4-year-old Malichi Lovely remains pending from the Marion County Coroner's Office. But an investigation revealed that he was found unresponsive in the closet with blood on his mouth, shirt, pillow and blanket. His 37-year-old mother, Angel Lovely, and her 36-year-old boyfriend, Nicholas Bergdoll, were arrested and preliminarily charged with neglect resulting in death.
IN - Malichi Lovely, 4, dies while being kept in closet beneath basement stairs by his parents - Indianapolis, 23 March 2026
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The cause and manner of death of 4-year-old Malichi Lovely remains pending from the Marion County Coroner's Office. But an investigation revealed that he was found unresponsive in the closet with blood on his mouth, shirt, pillow and blanket. His 37-year-old mother, Angel Lovely, and her 36-year-old boyfriend, Nicholas Bergdoll, were arrested and preliminarily charged with neglect resulting in death.
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Article from 27 March 2026:
www.yahoo.com
Indiana Mom Often Locked Wheelchair-Bound Son, 4, in Basement Closet Before His Death
A mom and her boyfriend in Indiana have been arrested after her 4-year-old wheelchair-bound son died, with police learning that she would often lock him in the basement closet for long stretches of ti...
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Angel's FB page
Nick's FB page
A neighbor speaking with WXIN reporters said she had called DCS on multiple occasions due to concerns about the boy's well-being and the health of his three siblings. Court records reviewed by the outlet reportedly show that Malichi's family, neighbors, and friends of the family had concerns that the child was being neglected by his mother for nearly two years.
“The system is broken. I know there were several neighbors who raised awareness to Child Protective Services,” the neighbor told WXIN.
Indiana couple accused of forcing special needs child to sleep in closet prior to death
Court documents obtained by the Star describe the condition of the basement where Malichi was found as filled with "Christmas stuff," where he "often slept" and was "often kept."
The boy's three older siblings told investigators that "he is trapped in the little room" and that their mother "keeps him in the closet and does not pay attention to him," court records state.
[snip]
A daughter who returned home later that day told detectives she opened the closet door and saw blood coming from Malichi's mouth, his eyes rolled back.
[snip]
The investigation also revealed the boy had a history of severe medical issues and had previously been noted as underweight and suffering from malnutrition, according to court records. He had briefly been removed from his mother's care in 2024 amid allegations of medical neglect before custody was later restored.
Lovely and Bergdoll remain held in the Marion County Jail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 30.
Mom locked wheelchair-bound 4-year-old in basement closet all the time before death: Cops
according to Nick he had only been in a relationship with Angel for a few months and said, "I'm not going to tell her how to f—in' raise her kids."
Per their facebook pages they've been together at least 5 months
Nick's FB page
A neighbor speaking with WXIN reporters said she had called DCS on multiple occasions due to concerns about the boy's well-being and the health of his three siblings. Court records reviewed by the outlet reportedly show that Malichi's family, neighbors, and friends of the family had concerns that the child was being neglected by his mother for nearly two years.
“The system is broken. I know there were several neighbors who raised awareness to Child Protective Services,” the neighbor told WXIN.
Indiana couple accused of forcing special needs child to sleep in closet prior to death
Court documents obtained by the Star describe the condition of the basement where Malichi was found as filled with "Christmas stuff," where he "often slept" and was "often kept."
The boy's three older siblings told investigators that "he is trapped in the little room" and that their mother "keeps him in the closet and does not pay attention to him," court records state.
[snip]
A daughter who returned home later that day told detectives she opened the closet door and saw blood coming from Malichi's mouth, his eyes rolled back.
[snip]
The investigation also revealed the boy had a history of severe medical issues and had previously been noted as underweight and suffering from malnutrition, according to court records. He had briefly been removed from his mother's care in 2024 amid allegations of medical neglect before custody was later restored.
Lovely and Bergdoll remain held in the Marion County Jail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for March 30.
Mom locked wheelchair-bound 4-year-old in basement closet all the time before death: Cops
according to Nick he had only been in a relationship with Angel for a few months and said, "I'm not going to tell her how to f—in' raise her kids."
Per their facebook pages they've been together at least 5 months
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“Malichi had previously been placed in foster care in 2024 due to medical neglect, court documents said.
Despite social workers strongly discouraging the court from allowing Malichi to return to Lovely, she was granted full custody in 2025, WTHR 13 reported.
Police later issued a search warrant, where investigators claimed the house was 'unkempt and dirty' with unwashed dishes and dirt-covered floors. The house also had a strong smell of cat litter, body odor, and dirty socks, the outlet said.
'Children depend on the adults in their lives for protection and care, and in this instance, this child was failed by the accused,' Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
'The allegations in this case are absolutely devastating.'
www.dailymail.co.uk
The Judge who approved that Malichi be returned to that house of horrors should be removed from court permanently because they have appalling judgement. What on earth were they thinking sending a young boy with specialist care needs back there? How did they no have the foresight to realise that there was a high likelihood of their reckless decision ending in Malichi suffering severe neglect or his death? It is heartbreaking to think of how Malichi must have suffered and that he was failed by a Judge, the legal system, the woman who gave birth to him and the man she moved in. Neither of them should be allowed near a child ever again.
‘ Indiana, neglect of a dependent resulting in death is typically charged as a Level 1 felony, which carries a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison, with an advisory sentence of 30 years. Recent cases indicate that judges frequently impose the maximum 40-year term for extreme cases of fatal neglect.’
www.madisonprosecutor.com
I expect if found guilty they are likely to get a similar sentence as the above case. Even the maximum of 40 years is not enough. They should get LWOP.
Despite social workers strongly discouraging the court from allowing Malichi to return to Lovely, she was granted full custody in 2025, WTHR 13 reported.
Police later issued a search warrant, where investigators claimed the house was 'unkempt and dirty' with unwashed dishes and dirt-covered floors. The house also had a strong smell of cat litter, body odor, and dirty socks, the outlet said.
'Children depend on the adults in their lives for protection and care, and in this instance, this child was failed by the accused,' Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
'The allegations in this case are absolutely devastating.'
Mom left special needs boy to die in wheelchair in a closet
Malichi Lovely, four, died on March 23. He was found unresponsive in a basement closet at his mother's home in Indiana.
The Judge who approved that Malichi be returned to that house of horrors should be removed from court permanently because they have appalling judgement. What on earth were they thinking sending a young boy with specialist care needs back there? How did they no have the foresight to realise that there was a high likelihood of their reckless decision ending in Malichi suffering severe neglect or his death? It is heartbreaking to think of how Malichi must have suffered and that he was failed by a Judge, the legal system, the woman who gave birth to him and the man she moved in. Neither of them should be allowed near a child ever again.
‘ Indiana, neglect of a dependent resulting in death is typically charged as a Level 1 felony, which carries a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison, with an advisory sentence of 30 years. Recent cases indicate that judges frequently impose the maximum 40-year term for extreme cases of fatal neglect.’
Shelby Langford and Nicolas Arnett Sentenced to a Combined 78 Years for Death of 17-Month-Old Child
Madison County Indiana Prosecutor's Office, Rodney Cummings
I expect if found guilty they are likely to get a similar sentence as the above case. Even the maximum of 40 years is not enough. They should get LWOP.
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