Formal charges filed in 5-year-old Muncie girl's shooting death
MUNCIE, Ind. — Formal charges were filed Tuesday in the July 26 shooting death of a 5-year-old Muncie girl.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman's office charged Jacob Curtis Grayson, 28, and Kimberly Danielle Grayson, 27, with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison.
Authorities said the Graysons' daughter, Crystal, was fatally shot in the head after her 6-year-old brother removed a loaded handgun from a safe in their parents' bedroom.
According to city police investigators, the parents failed to take proper steps after the boy had gained access to the safe on earlier occasions.
On the day of Crystal's death, a key needed to open the safe apparently had been been left in its keyhole.
More:Police: 5-year-old Muncie girl fatally shot by brother; parents arrested for neglect
The Graysons also each were charged with three additional counts of neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felonies carrying maximum 30-month sentences.
Those counts specifically refer to allowing the 6-year-old boy to have access to loaded firearms, and the "dirty, filthy or inhabitable" conditions in the house, in the 2800 block of South Monroe Street, where the family lived. Police called living conditions in the home "deplorable," with "food, trash (and) animal feces" found throughout the property.
Trial dates have not yet been scheduled in Delaware Circuit Court 5.
An initial hearing in Kimberly Grayson's case is set for Thursday afternoon. She continues to be held in the Delaware County jail under a $65,000 bond.
Jacob Grayson was released from the jail after posting a $65,000 bond soon after his arrest.
STAY INFORMED AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today using the link at the top of this page.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Formal charges filed in Muncie child's shooting death
