Mother Charged In Daughter's Beating Death

INDIANAPOLIS -- The mother of a 15-month-old girl police said was beaten to death by the woman's boyfriend in March was charged Wednesday with neglect.

Lilliana Goodman died March 13 after enduring a prolonged, vicious beating at the hands of Tayuan Chism, 18, in an apartment in the 2100 block of Amherst Drive, police said.

Chism was later charged with first-degree murder.

On Wednesday, Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi filed a charge of felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death against the girl's mother, Rachel Goodman, 21. TheIndyChannel originally reported that Rachel Goodman was 29, per the probable cause affidavit, but that information was later corrected by the prosecutor's office.

She is accused of allowing Chism to beat her daughter and failing to get medical treatment for the girl.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Rachael Goodman told police that she left the room while Chism was beating the girl because she couldn't stand to watch.

"What we've seen now over the course of a couple years is a disturbing pattern where these young mothers allow their boyfriends to be the disciplinarian, to decide the extent and type of discipline," Brizzi said. "It's whipping with belts, beating to unconsciousness and, in this case, it resulted in death."

Reaction from neighbors was mixed Wednesday night.

"I think that was bad, but they shouldn't have charged her, because, at the time, she was really standing outside. Then she went inside and he was in the middle of it, so they shouldn't have charged her for nothing," said Shayana Pugh.

"Yes she should be charged, that's neglect," said Sherice Miller. "The child was helpless. It couldn't do anything."

Rachel Goodman was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of the beating. She was also treated for injuries at the time from a beating by Chism the day before, police said.

Rachel Goodman agreed to turn herself in to police on Thursday.