Michigan couple charged in autistic girl's death

GOSHEN, Ind.-- The probable cause affidavit released on Thursday shows that a toxic amount of methamphetamine along with wood, plastic and even pennies were found in 11-year-old Chloe’s Hobb's stomach.

Her father, 34-year-old Brandon Hobbs and his fiance, 30-year-old Erica Reschke are now charged with neglect in the June 2018 death.

Reschke has been charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent.

Hobbs is charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent. 

According to the newly released documents, the night Chloe died, both Hobbs and Reschke were working cleaning and doing carpentry work for a homeowner who was out of town.

Both of Hobb's daughters are autistic with an un-diagnosed PICA disorder, meaning they regularly put objects into their mouths and have limited communication skills.

The behavior requires constant supervision, so they brought them along.

Reschke told investigators that Chloe vomited multiple times throughout the night before her death, and she last saw Chloe breathing around 3 a.m. that June 2018 morning.

When Reschke woke up around 7:30 a.m., she found Chloe unresponsive and called 911.

An autopsy found a staple, a bobby pin, wood among other nonfood items in Chloe's stomach, including a lethal amount of meth in her system.

When investigators interviewed Reschke again she was confronted by a positive drug screen for meth from tests collected that night. She admitted to buying the drug in Michigan and bringing it to the home where she says she hid it under items in the living room so Hobbs wouldn’t know about it.

Reschke also admitted that 11-year-old Chloe should have never been in the same room with potential access to the meth with her condition.

Reschke and Hobbs’ trial is scheduled to begin at Elkhart Superior Court on May 6.

If convicted, Reschke faces up to 42 years in prison.

Hobbs faces two and a half years.