A pregnant mother of two from Washington, allegedly killed her toddler and put his cold body in a bed. Prosecutors charged Ivey Lewis, 25, of Tacoma with murder after police found her 3-year-old son unresponsive in an apartment on Sunday evening. The child's body showed signs of brutal abuse, including fresh bruises on his face.
A friend of Lewis' reportedly called police Sunday evening after seeing the boy on the floor of a bedroom wrapped in a blanket, 12 News reported. The caller said the child's body was cold to the touch. When officers arrived, they saw the extent of the boy's injuries and determined he was a victim of torture.
The little boy was dead when the police arrived.
The Tacoma Police Department reported that officers arrived at the apartment in the 3200 block of South Mason Avenue at 7:35 p.m. February 12. They immediately began life-saving measures when they found the child, but he was declared deceased at the scene. Court documents stated that the child was "very stiff" and had no pulse, 12 News reported.
His injuries were extensive.
After further investigation of the body, it was clear that the little boy had been abused for some time. The report stated that officers on the scene found fresh bruises on his face, and he had "obvious burn marks" and cuts, according to 12 News.
He also had scabs on his midsection and his head, including swelling above an eyebrow that looked to be caused by being struck by an object. Documents stated that the color and shades of his injuries indicated the abuse happened at different times.
Lewis' story was not convincing.
Officers found marks on the boy's chest that matched the pattern of a taser found on a table in the apartment.
Lewis reportedly told police that her son ran into the wall several times, which caused injuries to his face and head, and that "he did that regularly," 12 News reported. She also reportedly said that he was sleeping next to a space heather in the living room when she discovered he was unresponsive, so she moved him to a back bedroom.
According to police, the heater was on maximum output and the apartment was so hot it was difficult to breathe. Officers also said the apartment was dirty and the home "did not appear to be well kept."
Lewis later admitted that she had physically disciplined her son.
Fox 13 reported that court documents stated police asked Lewis if she had ever struck the child with a cord or hanger, and she denied it. She then told police that she would put the child in "time out" when he misbehaved and that she rarely "swatted him."
Later in the interview, she admitted hitting the boy with a belt when she caught him "cuddling" with another child. A man on the scene reportedly told police that he saw Lewis strike the child with an electrical cord for wetting his bed on a previous occasion.
Lewis was under Child Protective Services supervision.
After her arrest, Lewis allegedly told investigators that CPS was monitoring her and her family, 12 News reported. It was also noted in court documents that the deceased child had spent most of his life in foster care from 10 months old until six months ago.
Lewis' other child, a 1-year-old boy, was found sitting in the bed next to his brother's body. Officials removed the young toddler from the home and took him to a hospital for evaluation.
Although she said she had not used drugs besides marijuana that was found in the apartment, the baby reportedly tested positive for methamphetamines, which she later admitted to using days before, according to 12 News.
Neighbors are in disbelief over the tragic situation.
KOMO News spoke with one of Lewis' neighbors, who was shocked by the news. A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told the news outlet that Lewis was a loving mother.
"She talked about them like they were her everything," the neighbor said. "It was very surprising – it was sad more than anything."
The neighbor said Lewis always talked about how much she loved her children and cared for them, and was always doing things for them. "It seems crazy she would be accused of such a thing, and her kids were the world to her," the neighbor told KOMO.
Lewis is a known criminal.
Fox 13 reported that Pierce County prosecutors said the mother has a long criminal history that includes 11 prior arrests and two felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle.
Lewis was booked in Pierce County Jail, and a judge set bail at $2 million. She faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, KOMO News reported. She cannot have contact with her other child.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
