Indiana mom arrested after son found inside running washing machine: court docs

ELWOOD, Ind. (WXIN) -- An Elwood woman was arrested after her son was found inside a running washing machine, according to court documents.

Heather Oliver, 30, is charged with Level 5 felony neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury. The charge stems from an incident that occurred Aug. 16, 2019.

According to court documents, a 5-year-old boy arrived at the hospital with his father around 10 a.m. Hospital staff said the boy was slipping in and out of consciousness. He had numerous bruises and scratches on his upper body.

The child's father told police Oliver, his girlfriend, called him at work around 9:15 a.m. and told him their son was stuck in the washing machine while it was turned on. He said the boy had vomited water.

Oliver later told police she checked on the boy in his room at 9 a.m. She thought he was under the blankets, so she went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of milk. While in the kitchen, she heard the washing machine.

That's when she said she saw the washing machine filling with water, and her son was trapped inside. She said she unlocked the latch and pulled him out.

Oliver told police she does not know how the washing machine works. She said her boyfriend does the laundry because she has a medical condition that prevents her from lifting heavy items.

Police returned to their house to execute a search warrant. They said they found no water or blood on the floor, and there was no sign of a struggle.

Also, there was no milk in the refrigerator and no glass with milk in it.

Doctors at Riley told officers the child's injuries were “highly suspicious for non-accidental trauma.”

Ultimately, Oliver was charged with neglect of a dependent “for knowingly and intentionally placing a dependent in a situation that endangers her son's life and health which resulted in bodily injury.”