Sheridan mom faces 6 years in prison; County judge to sentence Rebecca Kyrie on Friday

By Katie Merlie

katie.merlie@indystar.com

A Sheridan mother charged with murder in connection with the death of her adopted daughter is facing six years in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Rebecca Kyrie, 29, will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Hamilton County Superior Court 2. She pleaded guilty Oct. 31 to felony aggravated battery.

Kyrie has been in the Hamilton County Jail since December 2007 when she was charged with murder, battery resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and aggravated battery in the death of Chaeli Kyrie, her adopted 13-month-old daughter.

Chaeli Kyrie was pronounced dead Sept. 4, 2007, at St. Vincent Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.

The baby was taken there after Rebecca Kyrie called 911 to report the child's shallow breathing and seek help. Her husband, David Kyrie, has not been implicated.

An autopsy determined Chaeli died from "blunt cranio-cerebral injuries" consistent with shaken baby syndrome, and a Marion County coroner ruled the death a homicide. Doctors reported retinal damage and bleeding on the brain as possible evidence of a violent and fatal shaking.

If Judge Daniel Pfleging accepts the plea agreement, Kyrie will be sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. She will serve six of those years behind bars, and the remaining four years on probation.

The judge also will be asked to dismiss the remaining charges.

Along with hearing the guilty plea on Oct. 31, Pfleging lifted the order against Kyrie that prevented her from visiting with her two young children. She is able to have telephone conversations with them, and have supervised visitation one time each week.