CROWN POINT | New information in the death of a Hammond toddler caused prosecutors to add a charge and change others against the child's mother and stepfather.
Elijah Harris was just shy of his 2nd birthday when he died July 26 of a skull fracture and untreated second-degree burns.
Prosecutors changed two charges of neglect of a dependent to two charges of felony battery and added a fifth neglect of a dependent charge against Elijah's mother, Angela Burgher, 20, and his stepfather, Dennis Burgher, 28.
On Wednesday, Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez reduced Angela Burgher's bond from $100,000 to $60,000 if the court can verify her address and she complies with certain conditions.
The new charges reflect that Elijah suffered a skull fracture and allege his parents kept him in an abusive environment and failed to get medical help for the child, prosecutors said.
