KERRIE HOYT SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR NEGLECT OF A DEPENDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY

Immediate urgency to ensure the safety of all children

Kerrie Hoyt, 32, of Madison, Indiana was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge DJ Mote on Monday, September 15, 2025, to ten (10) years at the Indiana Department of Correction. Hoyt was convicted of the lead charge, Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 3 Felony.

“This case demonstrated an impressive collaboration across multiple disciplines who responded with immediate urgency to ensure the safety of all children involved” said Prosecutor David Sutter.

In September 2024, an 11-year-old child was brought to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and observed to have extensive bruising, as well as signs of malnourishment. Law enforcement immediately contacted the local Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), due to suspected child abuse, and an emergency forensic interview was conducted. The child victim was also transported by law enforcement to the Riley Hospital for Children and received treatment for injuries and malnourishment.

In addition to the primary victim, investigators and the Department of Child Services identified three other children that were living in the household. The children were located by law enforcement, transported to the Children’s Advocacy Center and forensically interviewed.

“It is always our goal to not only ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children in our community, but to ensure their voices are heard. The Children’s Advocacy Center offers that safe space that is so vital to our community” said Prosecutor David Sutter

During the investigation, led by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, a search was conducted of the child’s residence. Law enforcement corroborated the child’s statements and conducted interviews with Hoyt and other witnesses which provided the evidence necessary to obtain the conviction.

“We seek to hold individuals, such as Hoyt responsible for their reprehensible actions, and in doing so also considering the magnitude testifying at trial can have on a child.”

The victim’s family voiced feelings of gratitude in discussions of Hoyt’s sentence, as it ensures that the child victim, now physically healed, will now not have to reopen the healing emotional wounds, by reliving the events in a trial. A family member shared at sentencing, that Hoyt did not break the child’s spirit and that they can now ease the child’s concerns of returning to Hoyt’s care, as Hoyt will be incarcerated during the remainder of the victim’s childhood.

The Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office extends its appreciation to the many agencies and individuals who dedicated their time and resources to protecting these children and pursuing justice in this case: the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana, the Kentucky State Police, Jefferson County Central Dispatch, the City Madison Police Department, the Indiana Department of Child Services, Centerstone and the Riley Hospital for Children.