Murfreesboro parents plead guilty to aggravated child neglect in infant daughter's 2016 death

Brinley Hineman
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Colleen Delaney and Jason Ormonde, who were arrested after their 1-month-old daughter died in 2016, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated child neglect.

Delaney and Ormonde appeared before Rutherford County Circuit Judge Royce Taylor where they pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated child neglect, three years after being charged in the death of their daughter, Niyalee. They were sentenced to 15 years and must serve a minimum of 70% of their sentence, or about 10 years. The second count of aggravated child neglect was dropped, along with felony murder charges.

The couple had seven children and were known by state and local agencies. Department of Children's Services documents said both parents were methamphetamine users and had been using the drug in the days — and possibly weeks — leading up to Niyalee's death, which was investigated by Murfreesboro police Detective Tommy Roberts. 

Colleen Delaney and Jason Ormonde pleaded guilty Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, to aggravated child neglect related to the 2016 death of their infant daughter.

According to Niyalee's autopsy, Delaney came home from work around 3 a.m. on April 19, 2016, and went to bed. Around 5 a.m., Ormonde swaddled Niyalee in a blanket and put her in her crib before leaving for work. 

Three hours later, Niyalee was declared dead after being found unresponsive in her crib, which was cluttered with blankets, wipes, diapers and pillows. Detectives immediately suspected foul play, and the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. Niyalee's autopsy showed she was malnourished, was checkered in bruises and cuts, and had fractured ribs. 

According to a DCS investigator, Ormonde and Delaney admitted to using methamphetamine the morning of Niyalee's death. Ormonde said he'd been using it for the last three weeks.

After submitting to a drug test, both parents tested positive for meth. Ormonde also tested positive for amphetamine and marijuana. A police detective said meth was found in a diaper bag in reach of the children, in the garage and on Delaney's person. All of the children in the house were taken to a local hospital where they were examined for meth exposure. 

SUPPORT OUR WORK: To support award-winning journalism here in Murfreesboro, sign up for a digital subscription to DNJ.com.

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@gannett.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.