Lealyn Tuttle
A local man is accused of felony neglect of a dependent in the March death of his 8-year-old son from acute fentanyl and diphenhydramine intoxication.
Travis E. Tuttle, 35, of 4373 Serenity Drive, was arrested Monday by Columbus police officers on a Bartholomew County warrant. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bond in the Bartholomew County Jail.
On the morning of March 21, Columbus police officers were sent to Tuttle’s home in regards to a child who was reportedly not breathing, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When officers arrived at the residence, they met with Tuttle and a short time later, located his 8-year-old son, Lealyn Tuttle, who was deceased inside the home, Harris said.
Columbus Police Department detectives were sent to the scene and began an investigation that lasted several months. Investigators executed a search warrant for the residence and located narcotics including fentanyl as well as drug paraphernalia inside the home, Harris said.
An autopsy report later showed that Lealyn’s cause of death was from acute fentanyl and diphenhydramine intoxication, according to court documents. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold.
Travis Tuttle was taken into custody without incident at his residence on Monday and was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Lealyn was visiting on spring break when he was found on the living room floor by his father, who called 911. Investigators learned that the boy’s mother, Diana Hanson, had adopted Lealyn and had full custody, and that Lealyn visited Travis Tuttle regularly, including overnight visits.
Tuttle told investigators that he had gone to bed at about 1 a.m. on March 21 and Lealyn was on the couch in the living room, as he did not have his own room or bed, and preferred to sleep near a gaming system set up there. The father said he woke up at 3 a.m. and went to the kitchen for water and saw that Lealyn was asleep on his back on the living room floor and appeared fine, the court affidavit states.
Tuttle did not leave his bedroom again until after 11 a.m. when he found Lealyn unresponsive on the living room floor.
After a search warrant was obtained, detectives found aluminum foil containing white powder residue on the living room coffee table and a marble colored slab in the top dresser drawer of Tuttle’s bedroom, court documents stated.
A razor blade was found next to the slab, which was on top of photographs of Lealyn, the affidavits states.
Another search warrant for Tuttle’s cell phone showed Lealyn with foil on his upper and lower teeth and gums while imitating having jewelry worn over his teeth, and Lealyn was wearing the same shirt in the video that he had on when he was found unresponsive.
A DNA analysis on the foil showed a profile of a mixture of two individuals, Tuttle and Lealyn, according to court documents.
An analysis of the white powder was determined to be fentanyl and diphenhydramine, court documents state.
Lealyn was a second grader at Clifty Creek Elementary School who enjoyed playing video games, T-ball, baseball and basketball, according to his obituary. He was described as a “kind young man who had a huge heart and an even bigger sense of humor,” according to his obituary. He was remembered as “always seeking out ways to help others. He had a wonderful smile that could light up a room.”
