Missing Ind. girl found dead, babysitter charged

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - December 27, 2011 (WPVI) -- Relatives of a 9-year-old girl who was found dead in northeast Indiana say the man suspected in her death was a trusted family friend.

Mike Plumadore is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on a murder charge in the death of Aliahna Lemmon, whose family lived in the same mobile home park as Plumadore in Fort Wayne.

The 39-year-old was babysitting Aliahna and her two sisters when she went missing last week. Authorities are releasing few details but say Aliahna's body has been found and that Plumadore was arrested late Monday.

Aliahna's step-grandfather, David Story, tells The Associated Press he's surprised by Plumadore's arrest. He says Plumadore "was a trusted family friend."

Plumadore has a criminal record in Florida and North Carolina that includes convictions for trespassing and assault.

Get more National/World »

indiana, missing children, child death, homicide, national/world

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•