A 10-year-old autistic girl in Gary is dead after what authorities describe as an apparent accidental, self-inflicted shooting inside her home on Wednesday, and her father is now facing six felony neglect counts.
The child, identified by officials as Malaysia Robertson, was found with a gunshot wound and later pronounced dead. Her father, 29-year-old Mykael Robertson, was arrested and charged with six counts of neglect of a dependent in connection with the incident.
Father Charged With Six Counts of Neglect
According to a criminal complaint, officers were called to the home after Robertson discovered Malaysia missing from her bed and later found her in another bedroom. He began performing chest compressions until first responders arrived, CBS Chicago reported.
Investigators determined that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted in what police described as an apparent accident. Two other children, ages 6 and 7, were asleep in the home at the time and were not injured.
What Indiana Law Says About Neglect of a Dependent
Under Indiana law, neglect of a dependent is a felony offense codified at IC 35-46-1-4. The base offense is a Level 6 felony for knowingly placing a child in a situation that endangers the child’s life or health, according to FindLaw.
The statute allows for more serious penalties if the neglect leads to bodily injury or catastrophic harm, and cases involving a child’s death can result in substantially higher prison terms. Prosecutors and child-welfare experts say that when a child dies, criminal charges are often accompanied by civil actions through the state’s child-services system, which can affect custody and parental rights, per LegalClarity.
Police Account and Court Details
Police say Robertson told detectives he kept two guns in the top drawer of his bedroom dresser and that he normally stored them unloaded. He said he did not believe his autistic daughter knew where the firearms were kept or how to use them, according to CBS Chicago.
The children’s mother told investigators that Robertson had been caring for the kids after recently losing his job and that she "did not believe Mykael would ever harm their children." A judge set his bail at $50,000 during his initial court appearance, and court records show he is scheduled to return on July 31.
Child Access and Safe-Storage Context
Public-health researchers have long warned that unsecured firearms sharply increase the risk of unintentional shootings by children. An estimated 4.6 million children in the United States live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
A peer-reviewed analysis of unintentional shootings documented hundreds of child deaths from accidental gunfire in recent years and urged stronger safe-storage practices and child-access prevention laws to reduce such tragedies, per PubMed Central. Advocates say safe-storage measures such as locked safes, trigger locks, and keeping ammunition stored separately are proven ways to lower the odds that a child will find and fire a weapon.
The investigation into Malaysia’s death remains open, and prosecutors will determine how to proceed as upcoming court dates approach. Authorities have not released the exact address of the home, and additional details are expected at Robertson’s next hearing.
