The community continues its outpour of condolences after receiving the devastating news that authorities found the body of 11-month-old Mercedes Lain in a rural location outside of Knox.

According to Marshall County Superior Court records, her parents Kenneth Lain, 41, and Tiffany Coburn, 32, both of Plymouth, are now facing charges of neglect of a dependent. The babysitter in charge of Mercedes at the time of her death was Justin Miller, 37, of Hamlet.  Miller was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.  Further charges may be forthcoming.

The exact relationship between Miller and the family still remains unclear although they have been said to be related.  The cause of death has now been ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head.

A memorial was started for Mercedes Thursday where she was found at the rural Starke County location near the intersection of 1025 E 50 N. Family members, friends, and many who did not even know Mercedes have dropped off flowers, stuffed animals, balloons, and candles in honor of the little girl. 

Melody Dowd, a Knox local who did not know Mercedes or her family, says the community has had a hard time wrapping their heads around the news of her death. She visited the site this weekend with her husband and several other distraught community members. 

Dowd says she along with many other community members is looking for a change. Citizens have started a petition that is currently going around to hold Child Protective Services more responsible for their cases to prevent future tragedies from happening. As of Monday, August 23 at 3:00 pm, the petition had 5,571 signatures. The goal is 7,500 signatures.