INDIANAPOLIS — The mother of an infant girl who went missing three years ago has been indicted on neglect charges, along with her ex-boyfriend.
Amber Robertson and Robert Lyons both face four counts of varying degrees of neglect of a dependent, all stemming from the disappearance of Amiah Robertson.
The indictment alleges Amber Robertson and Lyons "cruelly confined Amiah Robertson and/or deprived (her) of necessary support" and "deprived (her) of necessary food, water or sanitary facilities."
Robertson was booked into Marion County Jail Saturday, while Lyons was still being sought by authorities. Police said Monday that they had obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Lyons turned himself in to authorities Tuesday.
Officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said investigators hadn't found Amiah as of Monday. Police have said they're investigating her disappearance as a homicide.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said he would consider additional charges against Lyons or Amber Robertson if Amiah's body is ever found.
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"If we're in a position where we are able to locate the baby ... nothing precludes us from adding additional charges," Mears said.
"The charging information very clearly lays out the theory that was presented in the sense that, if you have care of a child and you assume that responsibility, then ultimately you are responsible for what happens with that child — and I think the charging information and the grand jury indictment reflects that," he added.
Amiah was eight months old when she was reported missing in March 2019. It was the last time she had been seen alive.
The girl was last seen March 9, 2019, with Lyons at a home in the 200 block of South Holmes Avenue. Her family reported her missing a week later, on March 16.
Authorities later searched the Holmes Avenue residence after the investigation was upgraded to a homicide but didn't find Amiah there.
During a 2019 press conference, police said Lyons had told investigators about several locations where Amiah "should have been." But after checking each location, police were not able to find her.
Some of the locations Lyons sent them never existed.
Police also said Lyons had been "taunting" Amber Robertson about where her daughter could be.
On Monday, IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said he was hopeful that Lyons would surrender to authorities.
Adams added that, during the earlier stages of the investigation, police were given some information that was deemed not credible.
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"Obviously, chasing down theories, chasing down what people believe occurred takes a tremendous amount of resources and a tremendous amount of time from our detectives," he said.
Adams urged members of the public to come forward with credible tips moving forward.
As of Monday, Amber Robertson was in being held at Marion County Jail on $200,000 bond. She was booked there Saturday.
She's scheduled to appear before a jury Nov. 14 at Marion Superior Court.
Her and Lyons' charges are as follows, according to the indictment:
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury — level 3 felony
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury — level 5 felony
- Neglect of a dependent with deprivation — level 5 felony
- Neglect of a dependent — level 6 felony
IMPD has asked anyone with information pertaining to the case to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
This story will be updated.
