Kenneth Robert Lain Convicted For Abandoning Baby With Murderer

Kenneth Robert Lain

An Indiana judge has handed down the maximum sentence to a father charged in connection with the brutal death of his infant daughter. Marshall Superior Court Judge Matthew E. Sarber on friday sentenced Kenneth Robert Lain, 42 years old, jailed for two years and six months after one of Lain’s friends murdered an 11-month-old baby Mercedes Lain while babysitting in August 2021, Court records reviewed by Law & Crime said.

In January, Lain pleaded guilty to one count of dependent abandonment, a felony count of 6, of endangering the life of his infant daughter by placing the 37-year-old in her care. Justin Miller. Miller last year admit that he “smacked” the little girl in the head several times while using synthetic marijuana, then buried her remains in a shallow grave. Miller has sentenced up to 65 years behind bars for child murder.

Judge Sarber also credited Lain, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2021, with six months of “good times”. Under Indiana State Law, individuals incarcerated for certain misdemeanors and low-level felonies can get an extra day in prison for each day completed in good conduct, meaning Lain’s six months in prison earned him a year time is credited. If his conduct continues to be credited in good time, the remainder of Lain’s sentence could be extended by nine months.

Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman told South Bend NBC affiliate WNDU-TV that he is expecting Judge Sarber to impose the maximum sentence on Lain.

“Mercedes is living in the Economy Inn and the living conditions there were among the reasons the dependents were abandoned, along with the transfer of temporary guardianship to Justin Miller, who had a background without a warrant. Any self-respecting parent will hand over their newborn baby,” said Chipman.

“Tragic results for Mercedes,” he added. “It was one of those chapters that affected so many people who didn’t even know the people involved. It’s not just the family that suffers from this.”

Chipman also noted that Lain was previously found guilty of dependent neglect in 2016 and sentenced to two years in prison with a year of probation. He was then ordered to serve a one-year suspended prison sentence after violating the terms of his probation, Court records only. Lain was also found guilty some other felonymany of which include methamphetamine possession.

Chipman told WNDU: “All of those aggravators rallied to justify the judge giving him the maximum amount of money he could.

Mercedes’ mother, Tiffany Coburn, also pleaded guilty to one count of abandonment of a dependent. She is expected to be sentenced on February 25.

Tiffany Coburn, Kenneth Lain and Justin Miller. All three pleaded guilty in connection with the death of Mercedes Lain.

Equal previous report According to Law & Crime, investigators discovered Mercedes’ body on August 18 in a wooded area in northern Indiana.

Court documents says that Mercedes’ parents left her with Miller, whom they call a “family member”, on Friday, August 13 because the couple were struggling and needed a “rest” in the family. raising children.

The couple said Miller was supposed to bring the Mercedes home two days later on Sunday, August 15. After they got off the Mercedes with Miller, “both mom and dad tried to get hold of Miller multiple times and couldn’t. contact him,” the court documents read. . When they finally got to him on August 15, Miller is said to have told the couple he had left the Mercedes with a neighbor because Lain and Coburn were not at home.

A neighbor told investigators that Coburn “brought a duffel bag” on Sunday and asked the neighbor to “see it because they need to call the police about their missing child.”

“The duffel bag contained a safe,” according to the police affidavit. “It is believed that this safe contains illegal drugs.”

Investigators found Miller at a home in Starke County around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 16. He was taken to the police department where he allegedly waives his rights and agreed to be prosecuted. detective interview. Miller told investigators that Kenneth Lain contacted him on August 12 about purchasing synthetic marijuana, but said the conversation “later turned into a difficult time they were having.” right. [Mercedes], ” According to an affidavit probable cause. Miller said he eventually told Lain he would babysit Mercedes “for a few days” so he and Coburn could “rest”.

In his plea agreement, Miller reported admitted that he was at his girlfriend’s apartment to see the Mercedes in mid-August when he became frustrated that the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Confirming that he was addicted to synthetic marijuana at the time of the assault, Miller testified in court that he assaulted Mercedes “a few times” to get her to stop crying late at night on August 12 or early in the day. August 13.

Per South Bend ABC WBND branch, Miller speak he “beat” Mercedes several times “in the head” causing the child to hit the wall.

When he woke up on the morning of August 14, Miller said he got out of bed and “rolled a synthetic” before seeing Mercedes’ lifeless body. When he learned that the baby was dead, he went to a neighbor’s house to borrow money for gas; He then grabbed the wrecked Mercedes and buried her in a remote forest in Starke County.

He then lied and told Lain and Coburn that he had dropped his Mercedes at a neighbor’s house.

[images via Marshall County Jail, Silver Alert]

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