Anderson Toddler Found Alone At Restaurant 2 Months Before Murder

ANDERSON, IN — An Indiana toddler who police say was killed by her mother's boyfriend was found walking alone in a restaurant two months before her July death, WXIN reported. According to the report, restaurant staff found 23-month-old Paisley Hudson inside the business around 9:30 p.m. back in May, just two parking lots away from where her mom was living with her kids and boyfriend at an Anderson Red Roof Inn.

Restaurant staff wanted to help the toddler and called Anderson police, who said a responding officer's investigation didn't find any injuries or evidence to "support child neglect," WXIN reported.

Previous investigations by WXIN revealed Paisley's mother had previous contact with the Indiana Department of Child Services due to concerns about her kids, although the state's DCS wasn't contacted that night. Paisley died two months later from what the Madison County coroner said was two liver lacerations that caused stomach bleeding and several blunt force injuries, including a skull fracture, the news report said.

WXIN said according to police and the restaurant's manager, Paisley was returned that night to the mother's boyfriend, Ryan Ramirez, who now faces charges of murder and reckless supervision by a childcare provider.

In a jailhouse interview with the Herald Bulletin, mom Kayla Hudson called Ramirez a "monster" but said she'd had a wonderful relationship with him prior to Paisley's death. The bulletin said Kayla Hudson frequently contradicted herself during the 90-minute interview, at one point saying the bruises and injuries found on her daughter were caused by her son, then saying the boy was protective of his sister.

Kayla Hudson also said she and Ramirez frequently fought in the day's before Paisley's death and that she had been considering leaving him.

Kayla Hudson is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and reckless supervision by a child care provider.

Image via Shutterstock