Indiana – In a harrowing incident in Indiana, a 32-year-old man, identified as B. Bainum, is facing serious criminal charges after he beat his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son to death. The victim’s mother, identified as 23-year-old H. Lewis, is also facing charges in connection with the incident that cut a young boy’s life short. The case has stirred deep community and national outrage over the circumstances of the child’s death.
On a grim Sunday morning, the police department responded to a distressing 911 call reporting a 5-year-old boy unresponsive at a residence. The call, made on March 2, 2025, prompted a swift response from local law enforcement and emergency services. The victim was found in critical condition and quickly transported to a hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to another hospital, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:02 p.m.
The police, along with the fire department and emergency medical services, found the boy with visible and severe injuries, indicative of a brutal assault. An autopsy later confirmed the worst fears: the young boy had suffered a brain bleed and extensive marks to his head, back, and lower body, among other injuries. The medical examiner classified the death as a homicide, caused by injuries sustained from an assault.
According to reports, Bainum was taken into custody following the incident and charged with first-degree murder and interfering with the reporting of a crime. Bainum, who lived with Lewis and her son, prevented Lewis from seeking medical help for her son and from contacting authorities immediately after the assault. Lewis faces charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. Both are currently held in the county jail, with Bainum’s bond set at $1 million and Lewis’s at $100,000 cash only. They are scheduled for their initial court hearings on March 11.
The tragic sequence of events escalated dramatically after Bainum accused the young boy of being disrespectful and punished him severely. According to reports, Lewis initially defended Bainum, claiming her son “really looked up to” him. However, she later described a chilling account of the events leading up to her son’s death. She recounted that Bainum had become enraged, perceiving the boy’s behavior as ‘disrespectful.’ His punishment included making the child take a 15-minute cold shower and forcing him to apologize continuously for about an hour. Lewis also described a violent encounter where Bainum struck the boy “really hard” after the child bit him in an attempt to defend himself. As the situation escalated, Lewis found her son unresponsive and cold to the touch. Bainum took control of the situation, confiscating the phone and delaying the emergency call for over an hour. When Lewis was finally able to contact 911, Bainum allegedly coached her on what to say to the authorities, manipulating the narrative to cover up the abuse.
The charges were compounded by testimonies from neighbors who reported hearing disturbing noises from the apartment. One neighbor described hearing the boy pleading for mercy, “No, please stop, I will be a good boy,” but the sounds of physical struggle continued even after the boy’s plea. These accounts played a crucial role in painting a fuller picture of the ongoing abuse within the household. According to the mother, this incident was not the first time Bainum was hostile and abusive towards her son. She also told authorities that his cruel punishments included verbal abuse and forcing the child to eat hot sauce for crying.
This case has brought to light the harsh realities of child abuse and the devastating impact it can have. Local authorities are urging parents and guardians to be vigilant, especially in domestic settings where the risk of abuse may be heightened. As the community reels from this tragedy, there is a strong call for justice for the young victim and a reflective examination of protective measures for vulnerable children. As the community reels from this tragic event, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the young victim while addressing the systemic issues that allowed such a tragedy to occur. The case against Bainum and Lewis continues to unfold, with both the prosecution and defense preparing for a trial that will undoubtedly be closely watched by the public and media alike.
