Indianapolis couple arrested after 4-year-old found dead on the south side, neglect charges filed

Investigation centers on child’s death, home conditions, and drug exposure allegations

Indianapolis police arrested a woman and her boyfriend in connection with the death of a 4-year-old boy who was found unresponsive in a south-side apartment in 2022. The case has been filed under Indiana’s felony neglect statutes, which can apply when a caregiver is accused of placing a child in a dangerous situation or failing to provide necessary care, with enhanced penalties when serious injury or death results.

Court records describe an emergency call on the morning of July 15, 2022, reporting that a 4-year-old was not breathing at an apartment on Indianapolis’ south side. The child was pronounced dead, and an autopsy later attributed the death to cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. The manner of death was listed as undetermined.

The child’s mother, Noel Christian Wood, and her boyfriend, Jonathan Mulvihill, were taken into custody in Fort Wayne on Jan. 12, 2023, after warrants were issued in the case. Prosecutors filed multiple neglect-related charges against Mulvihill, including a Level 1 felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and additional felony counts tied to alleged endangerment of children in the home.

What court filings say about living conditions and alleged exposure risks

Investigators documented concerns about the apartment’s condition and potential access to controlled substances. Police records described the residence as extremely unsanitary, with trash, rotting food, and apparent fecal smears in areas accessible to children. Authorities also reported finding drug residue within reach of children in the household, all under the age of 8.

• Autopsy findings cited cocaine and fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death.

• Investigators reported conditions they said posed health and safety hazards for children.

• Search findings included alleged drug residue in areas accessible to minors.

Plea agreements and sentencing timeline

In 2024, Wood accepted a plea agreement requiring her to cooperate and testify if the case proceeded to trial against Mulvihill. Court schedules set Wood’s sentencing for May 12, with the agreement calling for an 18-year sentence.

Mulvihill later reached a proposed resolution calling for a 20-year sentence, with sentencing set for May 21, contingent on judicial acceptance of the agreement. The court’s review will determine whether the negotiated terms become final.

If accepted, the plea outcomes would conclude the criminal case without a trial while still requiring formal findings and sentencing in open court.

The arrests and plea negotiations underscore how child neglect cases can turn on a combination of medical findings, environmental conditions, and evidence of exposure to controlled substances, all evaluated under Indiana’s felony charging framework.