Stepmother, Autumn Dunn (29) accused of killing 2-year-old-boy Skyler Dunn.

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Meet Autumn Dunn (29) stepmother and murder, according to Indianapolis P.D. Autumn’s 2-year-old stepson Skyler Dunn, died a week after being taken to Riley Hospital for Children suffering from head trauma. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be B.F.T.

Let’s rewind back to the day Skyler was injured and the events that lead up to his death. It appears Skyler was having a rough day, in a bad mood, tired, cranky…whatever he was crying and wouldn’t stop. His stepmom was carrying him and was wiggling and she dropped him, on the concrete floor. After picking him up, he continued to cry. Autumn didn’t cuddle her stepson and make sure he wasn’t hurt, oh no that would have been too easy. Instead, when he didn’t stop crying and wiggling she “lost her temper” opened her arms and dropped him purposely to the floor again, causing him to hit his head.

Autumn’s 5-year-old daughter told a CPS worker that her mommy would hit Skyler in the face when she got mad. Autumn admitted she did hit the toddler in the face because he wouldn’t hold food in his mouth. WTH!

Skyler’s injuries included to two skull fractures, hemorrhaging and edema (swelling of the brain.) He also had marks on his necks and bruises on several parts of his body, including his lower back and forehead. When he was found by police at his father and stepmother’s house he was unconscious and cold to the touch.

Autumn Dunn has been charged with murder, two counts of battery and four neglect charges. She is being held without bond.

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Autumn Dunn, the Indianapolis stepmother at the center of a battery and child-neglect case, is now being charged with the murder of her 2-year-old stepson.

A probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday stated that Autumn Dunn, 29, admitted she deliberately dropped the toddler on the floor after losing her temper when he wouldn't stop crying. She also admitted hitting the boy in the face a couple of times with the back of her hand.

Skyler Dunn died Sunday, a week after he was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children-IU Health, apparently suffering from head trauma. An autopsy revealed that the toddler died of blunt force trauma to the head.

According to court documents, his injuries include two skull fractures, hemorrhaging and edema or swelling of the brain. He also had marks on his neck and bruises on several parts of his body, including his lower back and forehead. When police found him at his father and stepmother's house in the 8300 block of Sansa Street on Indianapolis' Southwestside, he was unconscious and cold to the touch.

An investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department indicates that Skyler fell on the floor at least twice on May 20, the day he was staying at his father and stepmother's house. Dunn told detectives the boy was crying and moving while she was carrying him, and that she accidentally dropped him on the concrete floor, according to court documents.

She said Skyler did not stop crying when she picked him up again. That's when she lost her temper.

"....'I lost my temper' and said 'fine, if you want down so bad' and then just released her hold on Skyler, opening both her arms, causing Skyler to fall onto the floor again," court documents said.

Dunn's 5-year-old daughter also told Child Protective Services case worker Dae Smiley that her mother hit Skyler in the face when she got mad. Dunn told detectives she did so because "he wouldn't hold food in his mouth."

Dunn is also facing two battery and four neglect charges. She is being held without bail at Marion County Jail and is scheduled for a bond review hearing in court at 9 a.m. Friday.

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Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 9:20 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 9:19 PM EDT

CAMBY, Ind. (WISH) - A Camby woman faces multiple charges in connection with the death of her 2-year-old stepson . Now, family friends say the tragedy could have been prevented.

Skyler Dunn, 2, died Sunday after suffering skull fractures earlier this month. His stepmother, Autumn Dunn, 29, was arrested a week earlier , when he was taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

Skyler visited his dad and stepmom on weekends at the home the couple shared with Autumn Dunn's parents, Vicky and William Patterson, in a quiet community in Camby.

But according to a probable cause affidavit , those visits sometimes left the toddler badly bruised. His stepsister told police that her mother, Autumn Dunn, "hits him in the face."

During questioning, Autumn admitted hitting the child "a couple of times" on the face hard enough to cause bruising, according to the court document.

Family friends said the toddler's mother, Jean Seal, was concerned.

"She said she was worried because he come home with bruises," close family friend Sharon Spurlock said.

Spurlock insists Skyler's mom tried to protect her son.

"She called Child Protective Services. I guess they didn't do much," said Spurlock.

But Autumn's father tells a different story. He insists his daughter and son-in-law, Allen, took good care of Skyler.

"I never seen no evidence. I never seen Autumn or Allen discipline the child or spank the child," William Patterson said.

But during her interview with police, Autumn admitted she dropped the toddler on his head, court documents said. She then picked up the child, and when he started crying she said, "I just lost my temper," the PC says.

She admits telling the little boy, "Fine if you want down so bad," just before opening her arms,
causing Skyler to fall onto the floor again, the court documents say.

She told police she'd hurt the boy, but she put him to bed - only calling 911 hours later when the baby was unresponsive.

"I just can't see my daughter doing what they allege that she has done," Patterson said.

But friends believe Skyler showed the classic signs of abuse after returning from visits with his father and stepmother.

"I think this could have been prevented if Child Protective Services had stepped in," said Spurlock.

24-Hour News 8 contacted the Department of Child Services, and a spokeswoman told us that laws mandating confidentiality prohibit the agency from discussing Skyler's case.

Amanda Dunn remains jailed and currently faces charges aggravated battery and neglect charges filed when Skyler was hospitalized. The Marion County prosecutor said he may file new charges because Skyler has died.

In the mean time, family friends are collecting donations to help pay for Skyler's funeral.

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Mother of slain toddler speaks out
Updated: Wednesday, 30 May 2012, 7:48 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 30 May 2012, 7:48 PM EDT

Deanna Dewberry
CAMBY, Ind. - A Morgan County mother blames the Department of Child Services for her son's death because case workers failed to recognize warning signs of abuse.

Jean Seal told 24-Hour News 8 she can't understand why anyone would hurt her child.

"He was always happy all the time - running around, playing with his bigger brothers. He'd always put a smile on your face if you're depressed. He can just change you in a minute," said Jean, sharing memories of her little boy.

Skyler Dunn was 2 years old. Every other weekend he visited his father, Allen, at the Camby home Allen shared with his wife, Autumn, and her parents. Autumn told police that during a visit on May 21, she lost her temper and purposely dropped the child. On Wednesday, the Marion County prosecutor charged Autumn with murder .

The affidavit indicates the toddler suffered two skull fractures and massive brain bleeding. And this may not have been the first time that Autumn abused her stepson. Skyler's mother said that months ago she began noticing bruising on Skyler's face after the weekend visits.

"They started little, here and there. Maybe he was falling down or something. But they got bigger every other weekend as he left me," said Seal.

Autumn said the toddler fell. But Skyler's mother took him to the doctor.

"The doctor said that doesn't look right from falling. They look worse than a fall," she said, noting the doctor called Child Protective Services.

Records show a DCS case worker visited the family in January. Seal said the worker questioned her as well as Skyler's father, stepmother and grandparents. But Seal said she never questioned the children in the homes.

She said DCS interviewed the children only after Skyler suffered fatal brain injuries. In an interview with Skyler's stepsister, the child told the caseworker her mother "hits him in the face." And, according to court documents, under questioning, Autumn admitted as much, saying those hits left bruises.

Seal said had DCS fully investigated Skyler's injuries in January, her child could have been saved.

"If they suspected anything, I would never have let him go back to that house ever again. I would have made his father come to my house and see our child," she said.

A Department of Child Services spokeswoman said laws mandating confidentiality prevent them from commenting on the case at this time.

In the meantime, the family is preparing to bury their son. The family is accepting contributions to pay for burial expenses at any First Merchants Bank.

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Hell would have frozen over before I would have allowed my son or grandson to EVER get near that monster again!