Stepmother strangles 10-year-old girl, hides body behind shed, police say

An Indiana woman was arrested and charged with the strangulation death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter who disappeared Saturday from the family's home in Gas City. Her body was later found behind a shed in the family's back yard.

Credit: Lechenie Narkomanii/Via Pixabay

Credit: Lechenie Narkomanii/Via Pixabay

An Indiana woman was arrested and charged with the strangulation death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter who disappeared Saturday from the family's home in Gas City. Her body was later found behind a shed in the family's back yard.

An Indiana woman has been arrested on charges related to the strangulation death of her 10-year-old stepdaughter.

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Amanda Carmack, 34, was taken into custody in the death of Skylea Carmack on preliminary charges that include murder, neglect and strangulation and domestic battery, according to WISH-TV.

The girl disappeared Saturday afternoon. Her body was found early Sunday morning behind a shed in her backyard in Gas City, Indiana, inside a trash bag, WISH reported.

Police said they believe the child was strangled sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Saturday, but they didn’t provide a possible motive during a press conference.

"Our main focus is who and how, not why," Indiana State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum said, the news station reported.

“To try and rationalize why someone would kill a 10-year-old, there’s no rationale for that. That’s just an act of cowardice,” Slocum said.

Authorities removed six other children in the house.

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