09/08/2008

Associated Press

Coroners have ruled as a homicide the death of a 2-year-old southern Indiana boy whom child welfare officials allowed to remain in his mother's custody after he tested positive for methamphetamine.

The Marion County coroner's office made the ruling following the June 28 death of Jalen Blake of Montgomery at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Jalen died from a blunt impact to his head, and an autopsy showed he had a bruise over his right ear and hemorrhaging that caused his death, the Washington Times-Herald reported.

Detective Gary Allison of the Daviess County Sheriff's Department said he would give investigative findings to prosecutors after he receives an additional report from forensic pediatrician Dr. Antoinette Laskey of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Laskey said Monday she expected to complete her report within days.

The boy tested positive for methamphetamine in his body just weeks before his death, but a state Department of Child Services case worker did not remove him from his home. Jalen's mother, Vadney Michelle Blake, 22, of Montgomery, was arrested July 16 on charges of neglect of a dependent and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

A police affidavit said Blake admitted abusing Jalen and suspected a man she had begun seeing, Jeff Truelove, 40, of Jasper, might have abused the child, too. Truelove committed suicide July 14 at a cemetery near Loogootee after fleeing police officers.

Blake remained jailed Monday in Daviess County, Allison said.