WANATAH

WANATAH

Husband's leg broken in domestic altercation

A Wanatah man broke his leg during a physical altercation between his wife and another woman.

Charges are now being pursued against the man's wife, Kim Spiess, 37, according to LaPorte County police.

Officers were called to the couple's home on County Road 1350 South about 11 p.m. Sunday and found Christopher Spiess, 40, on the ground.

The investigation shows Christopher Spiess had called a woman, telling her to come and pick him up because he wanted a divorce.

Joan Anderson, 45, pulled up to the home and rolled down her window as Kim Spiess followed her husband outside, police said.

Kim Spiess reportedly punched Anderson in the head through the open window while Anderson was still in the driver's seat, police said.

Anderson said the fracture occurred when Kim Spiess began kicking and dragging her husband then "took him down" to the ground, according to police. Police said warrants are being sought for the arrest of Kim Spiess on two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery.

MICHIGAN CITY

Coroner reports girl, 4, died of asphyxiation

The 4-year old Michigan City girl found dead in her family's apartment last month died of asphyxiation according to Dr. Vidya Kora, the LaPorte County coroner. Kora released the final autopsy and toxicology results on Savannah Pioch.

Pioch was found dead Sept. 19 inside her home at Tall Timbers Townhouses at 3061 Springland Ave. on the city's far east side. According to police, she was beaten and confined inside a sleeping bag.

Her mother, Melissa Bruce, 24, and stepfather, Scott Bruce, 37, were still being held on $100,000 bond Tuesday in the LaPorte County Jail on three counts of neglect of a dependent, including one Class A felony count.

Kora did not say if the girl was strangled. The report indicated there was a recent hemorrhage in the soft tissue of the neck, resulting in asphyxiation.