The family of 21-month-old Ansleigh Boatman is mourning her death after she was found unresponsive in her father’s car in Madisonville, leading to his arrest on charges of second-degree murder.
Lisa Fulcher, a grandmother-like figure to Ansleigh, said Kristen Fulcher, Ansleigh’s mother, is heartbroken after her toddler was found dead on Sunday. Kristen lives in Texas and never wanted Ansleigh to be in Joseph Boatman’s custody, but a Texas judge ruled otherwise.
“She feels like she failed her; she feels like it’s her fault,” Fulcher said. Kristen had to agree to visitation rights for Boatman when she sought child support, leading to him taking an eight-hour class before being awarded visitation.
Ansleigh was spending the summer with Boatman until she was found unresponsive in his car. St. Tammany Parish deputies arrested Boatman, 35, who is accused of abandoning Ansleigh in a car for more than nine hours. Authorities reported that Boatman consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before picking up his daughter.
“There’s an arrest that’s been made presently for second-degree murder. We will evaluate that and make sure that the law is factual support ultimately formal charges,” said St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Collin Sims.
The case is further complicated by Boatman’s history as a registered sex offender with multiple sexual offenses in Texas. Family members revealed that Boatman moved from Texas to Hammond due to difficulty finding work and was staying with his father in Madisonville.
“Should’ve never given him visitation,” Fulcher said.
Sims noted the importance of distinguishing between neglect and other behaviors as they assessed Boatman’s actions once Ansleigh was in his custody on Sunday.
“But I can assure everyone the most serious offense that the evidence in law support is the charge that will be pursued in this jurisdiction, the secondary murder charge, as long as the facts and evidence and information supports the charge, will be pursued,” Sims said.
The district attorney’s office is awaiting the toxicology report and other investigative leads, with Boatman currently charged with second-degree murder.
READ MORE:Family mourns toddler’s death after father left child in hot car
