Caretaker of 2-year old Charged with Death

A Dubuque 2-year-old has died of severe burn injuries, and the caretaker of the child is facing serious charges relating to and spurring from the incident, according to an article on thonline.com



2-year-old Bentley J. Randall died early Sunday of injuries related to an incident that is currently under investigation. The incident led to the arrest of a Dubuque man.

Police were called to Finley Hospital in Dubuque Friday morning on reports of a badly burned 2-year-old that was not responding, and launched a neglect investigation on the man that was in charge of the child at the time of the injury.

According to the reports, 20-year-old Kylee A. Vandermuelen left her 2-year-old in the care of her boyfriend, 34-year-old Nicholas Reed. His mother returned, noticed the condition of her child, and took him to Finley Hospital in Dubuque.

The child was transported to Iowa City at the University of Iowa Hospitals, where he died two days later due to the injuries.

Reed faces charges of neglect, which is a Class C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine as well. A warrant was executed and his residence was searched upon the discovery of the neglect.

Marijuana and methamphetamine were discovered at the residence, and Reed was issued charges for the manufacture of both of these as well. Methamphetamine charges carry 10 years possible as well, with a fine also. The marijuana charge is only a Class D felony, which only carries 5 years and a significantly smaller fine.

Reed may face additional charges as well during the investigation.
Please login to post.