News

Actions

Couple charged with murder of 4-year-old girl

Posted at 5:09 PM, Jul 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-11 21:19:46-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A mother and her fiance were charged Tuesday afternoon after her daughter died in their home.

Kelly Ballinger

Kelly Ballinger and Matthew Longenecker were charged with murder and child abuse in the death of the four-year-old girl. Ballinger was the girl's mother.

Police were called to the home on Mt. Olivet on Sunday morning at 5:00 a.m. on reports of a girl not breathing.  Police tried reviving the girl with CPR, but were not successful.

Matthew Longenecker

Police say that the girl's body was bruised from prior mistreatment and that the girl had been restrained at night over the past couple of weeks.  The restraints included wrapping the girl in blankets and then duct taping her numerous times.