BLOOMINGTON — Arrest warrants have been issued out of Monroe Circuit Court 3 for a Bloomington father and stepmother facing multiple felony neglect charges after police say they starved their 14-year-old child and kept her locked inside her bedroom prior to her death from severe malnutrition and dehydration.
Court documents reveal that Jerry Mayfield and Toris Mayfield each face three counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, Level 3 felonies. Jerry Mayfield obtained full custody of his daughter, Jamiyah Mayfield, in August 2024, and Toris Mayfield officially became her adoptive mother in November 2024.
Initial Investigation and Escalating Concerns
Emergency responders were first dispatched on July 2, 2025, after Toris Mayfield called 911 to report a medical emergency involving her 14-year-old stepdaughter. Toris told dispatchers she found Jamiyah “limp” in her bedroom and unresponsive when yelled at. According to court records, Toris dragged Jamiyah into the bathroom before placing the call. Jamiyah was taken to a hospital in Bloomington, where she was pronounced dead.
First responders noted that the Mayfields claimed Jamiyah suffered from a newly developed eating disorder and a developmental disability, asserting she spat out food and went to the bathroom improperly. However, testimony from school officials directly contradicted those assertions, stating Jamiyah exhibited no abnormal behaviors, functions, or eating disorders while enrolled.
Records show that concerns had been raised months prior to the teenager’s death:
- February 2025: Jamiyah was withdrawn from the Monroe County Community School Corporation when the Mayfields opted to homeschool her.
- Feb. 19, 2025: The Indiana Department of Child Services received a report alleging Jamiyah was “confined to the house at all times, and school is her social life”.
- May 1, 2025: Jamiyah was treated at IU Health for severe leg swelling, where medical staff documented poorly controlled ADHD, noticeable weight loss, and unexplained marks on her skin.
Video Evidence, Reversed Door Locks, and Window Screws
When detectives searched the Mayfield residence, they observed multiple security cameras throughout the home, including inside Jamiyah’s bedroom.
While earlier footage showed her room furnished with typical items such as bedding, furniture, and clothing, video footage reviewed after she was withdrawn from school showed her bedroom stripped bare, with no carpet, bedding, clothing, or food.
Investigators uncovered several physical alterations made to the room to prevent escape:
- Reversed Door Locks: The locks on Jamiyah’s bedroom door had been installed backward, allowing her parents to lock or unlock the door only from the outside.
- Fastened Windows: A screw was driven directly into the frame of the bedroom’s single window, physically preventing it from opening.
- Restricted Access: In camera footage, Jamiyah could be heard asking permission to use the bathroom via the interior Ring camera, only for Toris Mayfield to deny her requests while other family members moved freely around the home. Text messages between Jerry and Toris also detailed discussions regarding withholding food and strictly limiting what Jamiyah was allowed to eat.
Medical Findings and Cause of Death
A dramatic physical decline was documented during the investigation. In January 2025, Jamiyah weighed approximately 124 pounds. By the time of her death six months later, her body weight had plummeted to 80 pounds.
An autopsy report initially cited her primary cause of death as “polymedication-induced arrhythmia,” with severe weight loss (cachexia) as a contributing factor, initially categorizing the manner of death as accidental. However, following further examination and review of home monitoring logs, the autopsy report was officially amended on July 6, 2026, changing the manner of death to “undetermined” and citing the cause of death as complications of severe protein-calorie malnutrition and dehydration.
A child abuse pediatrician and director of the Pediatric Center for Hope at Riley Hospital reviewed the case files and concluded that the conditions surrounding Jamiyah’s death were “diagnostic of child torture”. Investigators noted that despite regular contact with pediatricians, the Mayfields never raised concerns to medical personnel about weight loss or eating disorders.
Detectives stated that although the Mayfields initially cooperated with the investigation, their cooperation ceased once authorities made them aware that evidence pointed directly toward severe child abuse. Both Jerry Mayfield and Toris Mayfield remain subject to active arrest warrants issued by Monroe County authorities.
