Missing 2-year-old girl’s body found in Indiana river

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. (TCD) -- A missing 2-year-old girl’s body was located in a river days after she and her father were reported missing.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office announced on Nov. 26 that duck hunters came across a submerged truck in the east fork of White River. One passenger was in the car at the time, and he was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Investigators learned that the man in the truck, later identified as Jeremy Sweet, had his daughter with him.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Jeremy and Emma were reported missing Nov. 25 after having last been seen the day prior at around noon. The Sheriff’s Office said during their search that they found Emma’s jacket downstream and ultimately discovered her body 3 miles from where Jeremy’s car was stuck. The Sheriff’s Office announced they placed Jeremy on a 72-hour hold with no bond as they continue their investigation.

WXIN-TV reports Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said Sweet provided several conflicting stories about how he and Emma ended up in the water.

Myers said, "There is really three stories now and none of them match."

Sweet allegedly had drug paraphernalia and a needle on him when he was rescued, Myers said. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office said he was out on bond for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of methamphetamine. WXIN reports authorities are attempting to secure a search warrant for his vehicle.

The Bartholomew County Coroner will determine Emma’s cause of death, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

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