INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis mother charged with neglect in connection with the 2019 disappearance of her baby has agreed to a plea deal in the case.
A judge accepted Amber Robertson's plea deal, which resulted in a sentence of six years, with the remaining time suspended and on probation, as she already spent 20 months in jail.
Her father, Chuck, was not happy with the sentence.
"I don't agree with her being let out. I believe in my heart...no, maybe she didn't harm Amiah physically. But I believe she knows what happened to Amiah. I believe that," Chuck said.
As part of the plea deal, Robertson pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent (a Level 5 felony) and the state dropped three other neglect charges against her.
Throughout the remaining sentence, Robertson is ordered not to have any contact with, among several other people, Robert Lyons, Robertson's ex-boyfriend who was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison in connection with the disappearance of 8-month-old Amiah Robertson.
"It was a difficult case. It's a challenge case," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. "The conviction on Robert for 10 years at the Department of Correction reflects what we were able to prove and what we were able to demonstrate, and the conviction here also demonstrates Amber's culpability."
"What hurts me the most of all of this is these two people, Amber and Robbie, will go down in history as getting away with a perfect murder," Chuck said.
Lyons pleaded guilty in April to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. Lyons was initially charged with four felony counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, but as part of his plea bargain, the state dropped three of the higher level felonies.
During Lyons' sentencing, the judge asked him for information on Amiah's whereabouts or what happened to her, but Lyons did not answer. The judge said this would have been a mitigating factor in her sentencing decision.
Amiah was last seen alive on March 9, 2019, after she was reportedly dropped off with a babysitter on South Holmes Avenue, near West Washington Street and South Belmont Avenue on the near west side of Indianapolis. Amiah is presumed dead, but her body has not been found.
Amber reported her daughter missing March 16 of that year. A few days later, on March 23, police announced they were investigating the disappearance of Amiah as a "homicide investigation."
Amber was arrested in September 2022.
Child abuse and neglect resources
If you think a child is being abused or neglected, call the DCS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556.
If you can, provide DCS with the following information:
- Who was involved
- What occurred
- When and where it occurred
- The extent of any injuries sustained
- Any other relevant information
Even if you don't know all that information, DCS urges you to call and report if you suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. State law requires DCS to protect the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations, so you can remain anonymous.
There is more information available at the Indiana Department of Child Services website.
If you would like to help victims of child abuse and neglect, Kids' Voice of Indiana has a Court-Appointed Special Advocate program. This lets volunteers advocate for child victims who don't have another trusted adult to stand up for them. You can learn more about the CASA program here. Kids' Voice estimates more than 3,100 kids in Marion County need help from a CASA volunteer.