FORT WAYNE, Ind. — An Indiana minor told police that his stepbrother held a gun to his stomach, claiming that his father and stepmother did nothing to stop the assault. Now, both parents face criminal charges for child neglect.
Anthony Rybolt and LaTasha Money were arrested and charged with child neglect resulting in bodily injury following the alleged incident. According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, the minor and his mother contacted authorities in late April after he reported the assault by his stepbrother, who allegedly strangled him before pointing a black 9 mm handgun at his abdomen.
Stepbrother’s Alleged Attack
The affidavit details that the minor told police the assault happened after a dispute over the family car. A week prior, Rybolt and Money allegedly forced the minor to drive another child to St. Augustine, Florida, so the child could hide from authorities, allegedly to evade an active Child In Need of Services (CHINS) warrant.
When the minor refused to surrender his car keys upon returning, the stepbrother reportedly jumped on him while he was lying on a bed, strangling him with both hands. The stepbrother then pointed the loaded gun at him and said, “I don’t need you anymore.”
The minor suffered visible bruising on his neck, which witnesses confirmed. The boy claimed that his father and stepmother encouraged the assault by failing to intervene, allegedly telling the stepbrother, “Just don’t kill him.”
Reporting and Arrest
After the incident, the minor contacted his aunt to report what happened. Witnesses corroborated his story, noting that he appeared upset and afraid, and observed the bruising on his neck.
On April 28, the minor and his mother formally reported the assault to police. Rybolt and Money were arrested on Thursday, booked into Allen County Jail, and later released on $10,000 bond each. Both are scheduled to appear in court on October 27, 2025.
Community Concern
Authorities emphasized the severity of parental neglect in cases of child abuse, highlighting that failing to protect a child from an imminent threat, such as assault or firearm danger, constitutes a serious offense under Indiana law.
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