Indiana – In a heartbreaking case in Indiana, a 25-year-old foster mother, identified as H. Volpatti, faces serious charges after her 21-month-old foster daughter, who had special needs, tragically drowned in a bathtub incident. Volpatti was arrested and charged with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death, marking a somber conclusion to a case that began in May 2024.
On the evening of May 21, 2024, emergency services rushed to Volpatti’s residence after receiving distress calls about a drowning child. The child, identified as Nova, was found unresponsive in a bathtub by first responders who managed to detect a faint pulse. Despite their efforts, Nova’s condition worsened, and she was transferred to a hospital for specialized care. Sadly, she did not recover and was pronounced dead on June 16.
Volpatti, who was alone with the children at the time as her husband was at work, initially told police that the accident occurred while she briefly left Nova in the bathtub with her two 4-year-old sons to get a drink. However, this account quickly unraveled under scrutiny.
Further investigation and a follow-up interview revealed a more troubling scenario. Volpatti later admitted to leaving Nova unattended for an extended period. According to police reports, she confessed to being on a phone call for about an hour and a half while the children were in the bath, contradicting her initial claim of a brief absence.
The affidavit detailed Nova’s significant health challenges, including global developmental delays and dependency on a gastrostomy tube, factors that required constant and vigilant care. Nova’s medical conditions and her young age made her particularly vulnerable, highlighting the egregiousness of Volpatti’s neglect.
Charged with severe offenses, Volpatti made her first court appearance on October 25, where she was held on a $75,000 bond. The case not only brings to light the critical responsibilities foster parents hold but also the dire consequences of their neglect.
Nova’s biological parents, C. Conkright and K. Bryant, expressed profound grief and anger over the loss of their daughter. They have been vocal in their demand for justice, emphasizing that the punishment should reflect the gravity of the neglect that led to their daughter’s untimely death. “I hope Nova gets justice the way she should because she deserves it … I want her to serve time,” Conkright stated in an interview. “She shouldn’t have had my daughter in the first place, but she also shouldn’t have left the room. That’s parenting 101.”
As the legal process unfolds, the community and the family continue to mourn the loss of a young life cut tragically short. The case serves as a grim reminder of the critical importance of vigilance and care in handling the needs of vulnerable children, especially those with special health requirements. This tragedy has stirred discussions on foster care standards and the oversight necessary to prevent such occurrences in the future, with hopes that tighter regulations and better training for foster parents will emerge as a result of this painful incident.
