The father of a 2-year-old southern Indiana girl whose body was found in a river last weekend has been charged in connection with her death.Jeremy Sweet, 39, was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail Wednesday on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, according to court records.Sweet’s arrest comes days after his daughter, Emma Sweet, went missing and her body was then found Sunday in the White River in Columbus, Indiana. The 2-year-old girl was reported missing after Jeremy Sweet was found suffering from hypothermia due to being in a truck submerged in frigid water. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Emma Sweet was with him when the vehicle went into the water.Both were last seen together at noon on Nov. 24.When he was first rescued, Sweet gave conflicting stories on the whereabouts of Emma. Investigators also said they found drug paraphernalia in the truck.According to a probable cause affidavit that was released Wednesday, Jeremy Sweet confessed to investigators that he had been using meth and marijuana before going to a casino in Shelbyville on Nov. 24, the last time he and his daughter were seen together.That morning, Sweet and two other friends returned to Sweet’s home after the casino. According to court documents, he then picked up Emma Sweet because his wife had to go to work and then they all went to the home of one of his friends.Sweet told investigators that he dropped off his friend at work later that afternoon. The friend said that Sweet was with his daughter when they dropped her off.During questioning, Sweet told investigators that he got lost on a dirt road after dropping his friend off and then his truck got stuck. He said when he tried to move the truck, it went over an embankment into the river.Sweet then told investigators he put his daughter on the roof of the truck because water was filling the vehicle. He said he and Emma fell into the water and he was able to climb back up on the top of the truck, where the two remained overnight.Because the 2-year-old had fallen into the water, Sweet told investigators he took her coat off because it was wet. He also said during his interview that the 2-year-old was yelling for her mom while they were on top of the truck.According to court records, Sweet said that he held his daughter for a while before putting her on top of the truck by herself because “they fell into the water earlier when they were both on the roof.””Jeremy said he woke up at some point and Emma was gone,” court records said.Sweet is also facing a charge of unlawful possession of a syringe.”Again, I want to reiterate that in my 30 years in law enforcement, I have never seen such cooperation in an investigation,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “I would like to thank our BCSO Detectives who have spent countless hours on this investigation.”Sweet is currently being held on a $1.2 million bond.Additional details were not released.
The father of a 2-year-old southern Indiana girl whose body was found in a river last weekend has been charged in connection with her death.
Jeremy Sweet, 39, was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail Wednesday on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, according to court records.
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Sweet’s arrest comes days after his daughter, Emma Sweet, went missing and her body was then found Sunday in the White River in Columbus, Indiana.
The 2-year-old girl was reported missing after Jeremy Sweet was found suffering from hypothermia due to being in a truck submerged in frigid water. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Emma Sweet was with him when the vehicle went into the water.
Both were last seen together at noon on Nov. 24.
When he was first rescued, Sweet gave conflicting stories on the whereabouts of Emma. Investigators also said they found drug paraphernalia in the truck.
According to a probable cause affidavit that was released Wednesday, Jeremy Sweet confessed to investigators that he had been using meth and marijuana before going to a casino in Shelbyville on Nov. 24, the last time he and his daughter were seen together.
That morning, Sweet and two other friends returned to Sweet’s home after the casino. According to court documents, he then picked up Emma Sweet because his wife had to go to work and then they all went to the home of one of his friends.
Sweet told investigators that he dropped off his friend at work later that afternoon. The friend said that Sweet was with his daughter when they dropped her off.
During questioning, Sweet told investigators that he got lost on a dirt road after dropping his friend off and then his truck got stuck. He said when he tried to move the truck, it went over an embankment into the river.
Sweet then told investigators he put his daughter on the roof of the truck because water was filling the vehicle. He said he and Emma fell into the water and he was able to climb back up on the top of the truck, where the two remained overnight.
Because the 2-year-old had fallen into the water, Sweet told investigators he took her coat off because it was wet. He also said during his interview that the 2-year-old was yelling for her mom while they were on top of the truck.
According to court records, Sweet said that he held his daughter for a while before putting her on top of the truck by herself because “they fell into the water earlier when they were both on the roof.”
“Jeremy said he woke up at some point and Emma was gone,” court records said.
Sweet is also facing a charge of unlawful possession of a syringe.
“Again, I want to reiterate that in my 30 years in law enforcement, I have never seen such cooperation in an investigation,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “I would like to thank our BCSO Detectives who have spent countless hours on this investigation.”
Sweet is currently being held on a $1.2 million bond.
Additional details were not released.
