Update: Saturday, September 20, 2008

Police have arrested Melissa and Scott Bruce on charges of neglect after Melissa's four-year-old daughter Savannah was found dead in their apartment Friday afternoon.

Our Read It / Watch It partners at The Truth say investigators are planning to perform an autopsy on the girl Saturday.

You can also read more about the neighborhood and the child's family in Saturday's edition of the News Dispatch.

Original Story

A four-year-old girl was found dead in her Michigan City home Friday afternoon.

Authorities responded to a call at the Tall Timbers apartment complex, and when they arrived they found the girl unresponsive.

Neighbors say both the mother and step-father were in the home at the time.

Police have asked that we do not release the family's name until the rest of the family has been notified.

On Friday night, neighbors held a candlelight vigil, praying that police find some answers as to what happened to this child in her home.

Those who knew the family have a few answers, but they say there may never be an explanation to this story.

Neighbors say the parents had only been married for about a month after meeting on the internet.

The mother had two young children: the four-year-old little girl and a young boy. The stepfather had four teenagers and has lived in the neighborhood for awhile. Both were present when EMS officials arrived.

Neighbors say he has had some troubles, but that they would never expect a tragic scene like this.

It is a day like this that made it difficult for neighbor Lynette Mooi to let her five-year-old son out of her arms.

"It makes you realize not to take your kids for granted, because you never know when they're going be gone," Mooi says. Her son was friends with the young girl who passed away.

Mooi spoke with the mother after officials arrived, and says the woman was hesitant to explain what happened. She did say to Mooi that she hoped the police wouldn't accuse her of child abuse.

Mooi asked what she meant by that, and the mother said that about two days ago the four-year-old became angry about something and threw herself to the ground. The mother says it was this incident that led to bruises on the girl's face.

What they find odd now, is that the other children and their neighborhood friends weren't allowed anywhere near the upstairs for the last few days. Now, they say they understand.

Kari Pratt says, "According to EMS and everyone else the baby stunk so bad it had to be gone a couple of days."

Pratt's teen daughter is best friends with one of the father's teens. She says he seemed to be a nice guy, but she's seen him struggle.

When she saw the police cars, she never expected to hear his stepdaughter was gone.

Pratt says, "I was afraid he killed himself, from past experiences."

While the neighbors promise to help each other get through this horrible experience, they light candles praying for the family and for more answers.

Neighbors say they worry for the couple's other children. They claim the parents were taken away in handcuffs. Police refused to comment.