Fort Wayne mother pleads guilty to neglect in death of toddler; prosecutors seek to withdraw father’s consent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – A Fort Wayne mother pleaded guilty Monday to neglect in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter after prosecutors asked to withdraw a settlement offered to the child’s father.

Madyson Conley, 26, pleaded guilty to a single count of neglect in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence and the remaining five counts of aggravated neglect being dropped. Her trial in the case was scheduled to begin Tuesday.

BACKGROUND: Fort Wayne woman charged with neglect after her child dies without proper medical care

Byron Hynes, 26, the child’s father, pleaded guilty in the case nearly a year ago. His guilty plea carries a maximum sentence of nine years in prison and the dismissal of five other charges of aggravated negligence in exchange for his testimony against all others charged in connection with his daughter’s death, including Conley.

However, this plea may be off the table.

In a motion filed Monday, prosecutors allege that Hynes breached the agreement by failing to provide them with relevant or truthful information related to the case.

As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull, who is overseeing the case, had neither granted nor denied the prosecution’s request. Hynes is scheduled to be sentenced in the case at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Both parents were charged with six counts of neglect in September 2022, five months after the child’s death. The first charges carried a potential prison sentence of more than 60 years.

According to an affidavit filed by Fort Wayne Police Detective Roy Sutphin, on May 1, 2022, police and paramedics were dispatched to Conley and Hynes’ residence because a child was not breathing. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sutphin said that when he entered the apartment, he was hit by a “very unpleasant smell” that was overwhelming.

Court records show that cats were in the apartment, the floor was so dirty it was sticky, and dirty dishes were piled up in the sink when police checked. Leftover food and full garbage bags next to the children’s belongings in the apartment also raised concerns for police.

According to court documents, police had previously investigated the family because the parents allegedly failed to provide adequate medical care for the children in the home. The toddler and another of the couple’s four children suffered from cystic fibrosis.

A DCS plan required parents to ensure the children see a cystic fibrosis specialist and follow his or her recommendations, not cancel doctor’s appointments and provide a clean and stable environment for the children, court records show. They were also instructed to obtain a radiofrequency vest for treating cystic fibrosis and receive training in its use.

When questioned about the vest, Conley reportedly told investigators she did not use it on the two-year-old because the toddler did not like it.

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