Infant dies Onamia father is arrested

By Dawn Slade The death of a 10-month-old girl has led to the arrest of the infant’s father and authorities investigating. Around 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to a request for assistance from the Mille Lacs Tribal Police regarding an unresponsive infant at 17325 Virgo Road. The child was the daughter of Kelly Friend, 19, and Lance Marshall Ballinger, 23, both of Onamia. The infant was not breathing and had a bruise on her forehead. Friend told authorities she had picked up the infant from Ballinger’s residence at 5 a.m. She said the infant had a bruise on her head that was not there when she was at Ballinger’s residence earlier. According to the criminal complaint, Friend said Ballinger had called her earlier to pick up the child, but she didn’t have a ride to get there until 5 a.m. She found the infant in the same bed with Ballinger, who appeared to have passed out and she could not get any information from him. The infant was taken to Mille Lacs Health System where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Friend told investigator Russ Jude that she had been at Ballinger’s residence earlier, the two were consuming alcohol and began arguing. There were others at the residence when she left, including two of Ballinger’s other children. Officers found Ballinger sleeping on the floor in front of a bedroom door when they arrived at his home on Migizi Drive. Authorities noted the house was in poor condition and there was very little food in the home. Ballinger’s children had woke up and were hungry and the officers searched for food for the children. The children were “filthy” and smelled as though “they had not been bathed for some time,” according to the complaint. The house was in disarray, there were multiple alcohol bottles and cans throughout the house, one child was in need of a diaper change and had notable diaper rash. Officers located their mother and returned the children to her. Ballinger told authorities he had been drinking but had gone to bed at 9:30 p.m. on June 20. He submitted to a breath test at approximately 8 a.m. on June 21. His blood alcohol content was .201. According to the police report, Ballinger showed little emotion when authorities told him his child had died. Ballinger told police he didn’t know Friend had taken the infant from his home. Friend told authorities that Ballinger had punched her more than once on June 20. Ballinger has prior convictions for domestic assault against Friend from April 2009 and a domestic abuse no contact order. This was the second assault on the infant. In November 2008, the infant had been brought to Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia and then transported by air to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale after sustaining skull fractures. In that instance, Friend initially told police that her 17-month-old child had pulled the baby off the couch. She later told police that her brother and Ballinger had been in a physical altercation and that she was holding the infant when she tried to break up the fight. Ballinger’s father said his son told him he had been inebriated and that he had dropped the infant while arguing with Friend. Since the death of the infant, investigators have gone back and questioned Friend, Ballinger and witnesses. Friend said she originally wanted to protect Ballinger, which is why she lied to authorities. She told authorities she wanted to tell the whole story of what happened on Nov. 5. She said her brother and Ballinger had been drinking. The brother became angry because Ballinger had assaulted Friend while she was pregnant. Friend was holding the baby when the two started fighting. Ballinger pushed Friend, causing her and the child to fall. Ballinger then put his hands around her neck and Friend’s brother intervened. Ballinger grabbed the infant and dropped her. Friend then contacted her mother and the two brought the infant to the emergency room in the middle of the night. The infant was then flown to North Memorial. Ballinger was charged with four counts of assault, but the Mille Lacs County Attorney’s Office declined charges in March. Assistant county attorney Melissa Saterbak who is handling the case, said she is unable to comment on the reasons why it was declined until the prosecution of this case is resolved. “We don’t want to jeopardize it,” Saterbak said. The infant’s body was taken to the Anoka County Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. The results are still pending. Ballinger has been charged with two counts of felony domestic assault, three counts of neglect of a child, three counts of endangerment of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He faces up to five years in prison on the felony domestic assault charges. Saterbak hopes the charges will increase as the investigation proceeds. Unconditional bail for Ballinger on the new charges has been set at $200,000 with conditional bail at $100,000. However, his sentence on prior other charges, the highest being a gross misdemeanor DWI, has been executed and he will be in custody for up to 365 days on that sentence. Ballinger has waived his right to a speedy trial. Both cases are being investigated jointly by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the Mille Lacs County Attorney’s Office. Comments (3) ... written by Mom of 4 precious little ones , July 14, 2009 This child should have been taken away at birth, and certainly after the 1st attack on this innocent child in March. All involved with this case at the Mille Lacs County Attorney's Office should also be arrested for not putting this scum away sooner! The mother should also be put away for not protecting her daughter and also sterilized so as not to have more children that would have no chance. God bless this poor baby girl... ... written by a concerned member of the community , July 04, 2009 I think the answer here is forced sterilization for the both of these losers. ... written by $12 k/year TaxPayer , July 02, 2009 More stellar members of our community. I'm sure that our taxes went toward their beverages of choice. Hopefully, these charges aren't dismissed, too. I also hope that all of these kids are placed with someone who is responsible and mature enough to take care of them. IF YOU CAN'T FEED THEM, DON'T BREED THEM!!! Get fixed if you can't help yourself! Write comment Comment Name Email Write the displayed characters   Add Comment

 

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