A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged following the distressing discovery of a 15-month-old toddler abandoned in a roadside ditch, her body covered in insect bites. The incident, which has shocked the local community, unfolded in rural Adams County and led to a police investigation that included a peculiar phone call from the suspect.
Chilling Discovery on South Marian Road
On the morning of October 4, 2025, at approximately 8 a.m., law enforcement officers received an urgent call from a concerned citizen reporting a child in a ditch along South Marian Road. Upon arrival at the scene, a responding officer found a truck driver holding the young girl, who was in overall good health but presented with multiple insect bites, a full nappy, and a noticeable rash.
The toddler was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for a thorough medical evaluation. The location, situated just outside Hastings—a medium-sized city about 110 miles southwest of Lincoln, US—is in a remote area of Adams County, adding to the severity of the abandonment.
Strange Call Precedes Arrest
Shortly after the child was found, police received another call, this time from a witness who reported having just spoken with Austin Hendrick, 31. According to an affidavit, Hendrick allegedly told the witness he was searching for a missing child he had been babysitting, sparking immediate suspicion among investigators.
When police spoke directly with Hendrick, he claimed that someone must have taken the toddler from his home, which was located roughly a mile and a half from where she was discovered. In his account, detailed in a search warrant affidavit, Hendrick stated he had gone to feed his dogs and returned to find his front door wide open and the little girl gone.
Arrest and Charges Filed
Austin Hendrick was arrested on January 27, 2026, in connection with the incident. He has been charged with child abuse without injury, though authorities have declined to release any identifying information about the child at the centre of the case, citing privacy concerns. The arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address cases of child neglect and abuse in the region.
This case comes amid heightened awareness of child welfare issues, following other recent prosecutions for severe abuse. In a separate but similarly disturbing case, a couple in West Virginia was sentenced to lengthy prison terms for forcing their adopted children to stand for hours and sleep on concrete floors, with one child describing them as monsters.
Broader Context of Child Abuse Cases
In that related case, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and her husband Donald Lantz were convicted on multiple counts, including forced labour, human trafficking, and child abuse and neglect. Whitefeather received a prison sentence of up to 215 years, while Lantz was sentenced to up to 60 years, with both eligible for parole after serving decades.
During sentencing, Judge Maryclaire Akers condemned their actions, noting that the couple had blamed their real estate agent for not finding an isolated enough property to continue their abuse. She stated, You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as 'Almost Heaven,' and you put them in hell. This court will now put you in yours.
The Adams County case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young children and the critical role of community vigilance and police intervention in safeguarding their well-being.
