Missing 11-Month-Old Baby Found Dead In Woods; Parents And Babysitter Charged

Plymouth Police Department launched a search for 11-month-old Mercedes Lain after she was reported missing by her parents. The search for the child came to an end when her babysitter 37-year-old Justin Lee Miller led the police to her body in a wooded area. Along with the babysitter, the child’s parents were taken into custody.

It is believed that Mercedes’ parents 41-year-old Kenneth Lain and 32-year-old Tiffany Coburn had left the child under Miller’s care. She had been staying with the man since Aug.5 or Aug. 6. After being under his care for nearly a week the child was reported missing.

A state-wide Silver Alert noted that the infant had been spotted on Saturday, Aug. 14 with Miller in Mishawaka, Indiana around 12:30 p.m. The babysitter had failed to hand over the child to her parents at a pre-determined time. This led to Kenneth alerting the police on Sunday, Aug. 15, Law&Crime reported.

On Monday, Aug. 16 at around 3:30 a.m. Miller was located and taken into police custody. Police questioned the man with whom the child was last seen. He told the police that Kenneth had contacted him to buy synthetic marijuana on Aug. 12. He shared that the couple was having a “tough time” with the child. So, to give the parents a break he agreed to care for the child. His story about the child’s whereabouts kept changing.

On Wednesday, Aug. 18 Miller led the police to a remote, wooded area where the child’s body was discovered. While being held at Marshall County Jail, he reportedly told the police that he found the child dead on Aug. 14 and tried to dispose of her body in the woods, WTHR reported. He had also admitted to using synthetic marijuana while the child was under his care. The cause for Mercedes’ death has not been revealed yet.

Police charged Miller with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. He is being held without bond. Kenneth and Coburn have been charged with neglect of a dependent. They appeared in court and filed a not guilty plea, The Pilot News reported. They are being held on a $15,000 bond as the trial continues.