Dyess airman's wife charged after toddler daughter dies, two other kids allegedly neglected
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Dyess airman's wife charged after toddler daughter dies, two other kids allegedly neglected
Tiffany Nicole Klapheke, 21, the wife of a deployed Dyess Air Force Base airman, was booked into the Taylor County Jail early Wednesday on three counts of felony injury to a child, one of whom, a 22-month-old girl, was pronounced dead at an Abilene hospital.
Klapheke, who lives in Dyess housing, made a 911 call just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Abilene Police Department. First responders arrived at Klapheke's residence in the 100 block of Washington Loop to find three children — ages 3 years, 22 months and 6 months. An unresponsive 22-month-old was taken by ambulance to Abilene Regional Medical Center, where Justice of the Peace Bryan Smith pronounced her dead and ordered an autopsy by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office.
"Detectives believe that injuries to these two children, and the deceased child, appear to be related to severe neglect," said George Spindler, APD public information officer.
The other two children were flown to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. Their conditions were not immediately reported.
Klapheke was jailed with bonds totaling $500,000. Bond had not been posted as of late Wednesday afternoon.
"The loss of a Team Dyess member, and especially one so young, is an extremely tragic thing," said Col. Glen VanHerck, 7th Bomb Wing commander. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all of Team Dyess. We will continue to support and help all who have been impacted by this tragic event."
Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, said as of Wednesday she would not be able to discuss the case, saying only that her office is investigating.
Abilene police, however, have said the case involved neglect, not physical abuse.
"This is a case of severe neglect to include lack of nutrition, lack of hygiene, lack of contact — just a complete lack of care," said Assistant Chief Mike Perry. "This is not a case of physical abuse."
Spindler said police received a call from a frantic Klapheke at 3:56 p.m. Tuesday and were dispatched to her residence on the base after it was determined the call was about an injured child. Dyess Security Forces went to the home, where the unresponsive child was found and requested assistance from the APD.
Upon arrival, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Crimes Against Persons Unit, found three children at the residence, including the unresponsive girl.
"We will work closely with local authorities to thoroughly complete this investigation," VanHerck said. The Department of Defense will take part in the investigation, Dyess officials said.
It is unknown how long Klapheke lived on base, nor when her husband was deployed.
According to Tiffany Klapheke's Facebook page, the young mother from Georgetown, Ky., inquired in April to her hometown's television station about the condition of an 11-week-old boy who was hospitalized after apparently being shaken.
"This has weighed heavily on my heart all week," she wrote. "I pray he makes a fullrecovery."
Klapheke's last post was at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday and read: "What caused the big red moon that rose and fell about 30 mins ago? — Dyess AFB TX"
The self-described stay-at-home mom worked at Abilene Bowling Lanes from March to June, according to her Facebook page.
Sandy Carlile, manager of the bowling center, confirmed that Klapheke was only employed there for a few months but her husband worked there longer than his wife.
"Lets just say it didn't work out," she said about Tiffany's employment history at the bowling center. "Did I ever think anything like this would happen? No."
This is so horrible and sad. Everyone is shocked right now. I found out about it when I was paying my rent this morning. This happened at the base we are at.
Not surprising? The whole base is in shock right now. Especially considering how many programs are in place to help spouses of deployed members ( I know I used quite a few during my DH's deployment). How is this not surprising?
Quoting Anonymous:Sad but not surprising
We were all devistated.. Small ship, we all knew each others kids:(
That is horrible. Breaks my heart.
Quoting Anonymous:
This made me cry.. We were on deployment and an et had to leave her 3 kids with her lazy no good husband. Her toddler died. Fell in a bucket of cleaning solution and couldn't get out. The lazy bastard was napping
We were all devistated.. Small ship, we all knew each others kids:(
That's the ugliest name everrrr!!!