The investigation into the disappearance of 11-month-old Mercedes Lain ended late Wednesday night. Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman announced Thursday morning that she was found deceased in a dense wooded area near the intersection of 1025 E. 50 N. in Starke County.
Mercedes Lain was reported missing Sunday, August 15 after her parents, Tiffany Coburn and Kenneth Lain, called police to file a report. Court documents show that they told police that Mercedes Lain was left in the care of a family relative, Justin Miller, Friday, August 13 so they could have a break for “a few days”. Miller was supposed to return her Sunday, August 15, but she was not returned.
A Silver Alert was issued late Sunday for both Mercedes Lain and Miller. Miller was located in Starke County Monday, August 16 at 3:30 a.m. ET. Miller told police that he was contacted by Kenneth Lain Thursday, August 12 to buy synthetic marijuana, according to the Affidavit for Probable Cause. The pair discussed hard times and Miller reportedly offered to watch Lain for a few days. Police say Miller’s timeline of events changed several times.. He allegedly admitted to using synthetic marijuana numerous occasions when he was with the child.
Police were eventually able to make contact with Tiffany Coburn the morning of August 16, but officers say both Coburn and Kenneth Lain were uncooperative in looking for their child. She was taken into custody later that afternoon where she told officers she had been in contact with Kenneth Lain and Miller through Facebook messenger during the time the child had been missing. She also allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine.
Kenneth Lain was taken into custody Monday evening where he was reportedly found to be under the influence of an unknown substance. He told investigators that he spoke with Coburn and Miller through the weekend but did not know Miller’s whereabouts.
It was Wednesday, August 18 when Miller told police that he was at a residence in Mishawaka Saturday, August 14 and when he woke up he found Mercedes Lain deceased, according to court documents. That same document showed that he further told investigators that he disposed of her body near 1025 E. and 50 N. in Starke County.
An autopsy will be scheduled in Marshall County with a forensic pathologist to determine manner and cause of death.
Prosecutor Nelson Chipman stated in a press conference Thursday morning that Justin Lee Miller, 37, faces a Level 1 Felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Tiffany Coburn, 32, and Kenneth Lain, 41, face charges of neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 Felony. Initial hearings are anticipated to be held Friday, August 20.
The Plymouth Police Department was assisted in the case by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office, Marshall County Coroner’s Office, Indiana State Police, FBI, FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Mishawaka Police Department, South Bend Police Department, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, and many Task Force officers.
Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
