Law | National

Child abuse charges added for death of Yankton Sioux toddler





Additional charges were filed in connection with a two-year-old girl who died at a housing complex operated by the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Taylor Cournoyer, 21, and Laurie Cournoyer, 28, each face a total of nine charges -- five child abuse charges, failure to report the death of a child, possession of methamphetamine, keeping a place for use or sale of controlled substances, and possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, The Mitchell Daily Republic reported.

Rielee Lovell , 2, died in Cournoyer's home at the tribal complex. The child abuse charges related to the five children who were home at the time of Rielee's death.

A juvenile relative is also being held in connection with Rielee's death.

Tribal members held a memorial walk in Rielee's honor on Monday, which would have been her third birthday.

Get the Story:
More charges leveled in toddler death (The Mitchell Daily Republic 7/31)
Couple indicted in death of child (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 7/31)

Related Stories:
Memorial walk planned in honor of Yankton Sioux girl who died (7/19)
Yankton Sioux leader calls methamphetamine a major problem (7/17)
Adults charged in connection to death at Yankton Sioux complex (7/13)
Adults might face charges for murder at Yankton Sioux complex (7/12)
Yankton Sioux Tribe shocked by murder of two-year-old toddler (7/11)

Join the Conversation