Mother arrested, indicted for Manslaughter in 2-year-old toddler’s death

BROCKTON – The mother of a two year-old Whitman toddler has been indicted for Manslaughter in the child’s death, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.

Late today, a Plymouth County Grand Jury indicted Shaniqua Leonard, 29, of Whitman, on one charge of Manslaughter in the death of her 2 year-old daughter Lyric Farrell.

Leonard had previously been charged with one count of Reckless Endangerment of a Child. The upgrade in the charge reflects the completion of the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report and the State Police and Whitman Police investigation.

Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office late this afternoon sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Leonard and she was placed in custody. She is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow in Brockton Superior Court.

On Saturday, December 28, at approximately 12:02 a.m., Whitman Police received a 911 call for an unresponsive two-year-old female at 863 Washington Street #3 in Whitman. Whitman Police and Fire responded and transported the girl to Brockton Hospital. The child was later medflighted to Children’s Hospital in critical condition and on December 31 at approximately 3:00 p.m., she was taken off of life support.