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An Indianola woman is in jail in connection with the death of an infant.
51-year old Melissa Hancock is a home daycare provider who faces a first degree murder charge in the death of a 4-month old baby in her care.
The infant was found unresponsive in October of 2024 at Hancock's home and was flown to a Des Moines hospital, where he later died.
Court documents show the child's cause of death was due to a traumatic skull fracture and spinal injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.
Indianola Police Chief Brian Sher says medical findings also showed past injuries, which suggest a pattern of prior physical abuse.