Authorities have classified the death of a five-year-old boy from Michigan City as a homicide, resulting in the arrests of his mother and her boyfriend on serious allegations.
Emergency services were summoned to a residence on Normandy Drive at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, following a 911 call indicating that Augustus Williams, aged 5, was not breathing. At the time, his mother, Halie Lewis, 23, and her boyfriend, Brice Bainum, 32, were present in the home.
Upon arrival, officers from the Michigan City Police Department, along with personnel from the Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS, found Augustus in critical condition. He was initially taken to Franciscan Hospital and later airlifted to Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago for specialized medical care. Despite the efforts of first responders and medical staff, he was declared deceased around 7 p.m. that same day.
On Wednesday, the Cook County Medical Examiner determined that Augustus’ death was a homicide.
Subsequently, on Thursday, Bainum was charged with murder and obstructing the reporting of a crime, with his bond set at $1 million cash-only. He is currently being held in LaPorte County Jail as he awaits his initial court appearance.
On Friday, Lewis was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and issued a $100,000 cash-only bond. She is also incarcerated at LaPorte County Jail.