On November 23rd, 2012, at 9:36 p.m., Dubuque Police responded to Finley Hospital on the report of an unresponsive two year old child with severe burns.
On November 23rd, 2012, at 9:36 p.m., Dubuque Police responded to Finley Hospital on the report of an unresponsive two year old child with severe burns. Kylee A. Vandermuelen, 20, of 270 York Street, reportedly left her son, Bentley J. Randall, DOB: 09/08/2010 (of the same address), in the care of her boyfriend, Nicholas H. Reed, 34, of 2926 Timberline Street, Dubuque. When she returned and learned of Bentley’s condition, she transported him to the hospital where it was determined he had obvious submersion burns and was suffering from head trauma. He was air lifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. On Sunday, November 25th, 2012, Bentley succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation led to criminal charges of “Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person” being filed on Reed. A search warrant was executed at Reed’s residence where investigators located what appeared to be marijuana and methamphetamine. After locating the above mentioned narcotics, the Dubuque Drug Task Force executed an additional search warrant pertaining specifically to illegal narcotics. As a result, two additional charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Marijuana were filed on Reed.
Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person is a Class C Felony punishable by imprisonment up to ten years and a fine between $1,000 and $10,000. Manufacturing Methamphetamine is also a Class C Felony carrying the same confinement potential, but with the fine ranging between $1,000 and $50,000. Manufacturing Marijuana is a Class D Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine between $750 and $7,500.
As part of the ongoing investigation, medical personnel at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics recently determined Bentley died from blunt force trauma to the head. The doctors advised Bentley’s injuries were consistent with being shaken and slammed. Hair stat tests were also conducted on Bentley and came back positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.
During the investigation, it was determined that Bentley was acting normal and not exhibiting signs or symptoms of head trauma the morning of November 23rd, 2012. Bentley was later dropped off at Reed’s residence and left in his care while Bentley’s mother went to work. While in Reed’s care, Bentley began to show symptoms of head trauma. Doctors confirmed a person with a fatal head injury like Bentley’s would have displayed some type of symptom immediately after the head trauma occurred.
Based on this new information, Reed is additionally being charged with First Degree Murder, a Class A Felony punishable by life in prison.
As with any criminal case, the charges filed are allegations and any suspect charged is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.