INDIANAPOLIS—In January the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office began planning to take the case of baby Amiah Robertson to a Grand Jury. One obstacle is that no one knows exactly what happened to her. Monday Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced an indictment against Amiah’s mother Amber Robertson, 23, of Indianapolis.
“To this point we still have not found the body,” said Mears, in a Monday morning press conference. “The one thing that I would make clear to everybody is if we are in a position where we are able to locate the baby, if we are able to locate that child, nothing precludes us from being able to file additional charges.”
Both Mears and Indianapolis Metro Police Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said the case is still open and people are still providing tips.
It’s been three years
It’s been three years since the baby disappeared. That happened in March 2019. Since then searches of back yards, with digging, and the banks of the White River, have produced no evidence that led police or prosecutors in any particular direction.
While the investigators have been confounded, they are still looking for Robert Lyons, Amber Robertson’s former boyfriends, with whom the baby was last seen. They believe the two had something to do with Amiah’s disappearance.
What they could and couldn’t get
But, they could not get a murder indictment, getting instead four counts of neglect of a dependent, one of those with serious bodily injury, another with bodily injury, making possible at least a 24-year sentence, should Robertson be found guilty and receive consecutive sentences.
“There were two no bills in this particular case,” said Mears, when asked about whether the Grand Jury considered murder as a charge. “I can’t talk about the no bills.”
The indictment stated Robertson “cruelly confined Amiah Robertson and/or deprived (her) of necessary support” and “deprived (her) of necessary food, water or sanitary facilities.”
Please, no theories
Adams said he’s grateful to people who have provided police with tips, adding though, that theories have taken a lot of the detectives’ time.
“I would ask and urge the community to come forward with legitimate information, as opposed to theories,” he said.
Police Chief Taylor echoed the appreciation for continued tips.
“We hope that we can get baby Amiah justice,” he concluded.
