Frank Larkins, III v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be
    regarded as precedent or cited before any                                 FILED
    court except for the purpose of establishing                         Jun 13 2017, 11:12 am
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                   CLERK
    estoppel, or the law of the case.                                     Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    and Tax Court
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                  ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Lisa M. Johnson                                         Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
    Brownsburg, Indiana                                     Attorney General of Indiana
    Tyler G. Banks
    Deputy Attorney General
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Frank Larkins, III                                      June 13, 2017
    Appellant-Defendant,                                    Court of Appeals Case No.
    49A02-1611-CR-2516
    v.                                              Appeal from the Marion Superior
    Court
    State of Indiana,                                       The Honorable Mark D. Stoner,
    Appellee-Plaintiff.                                     Judge
    Trial Court Cause No.
    49G06-1411-MR-52285
    Najam, Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017          Page 1 of 17
    Statement of the Case
    [1]   Frank Larkins, III appeals his convictions for aggravated battery, as a Level 1
    felony, and neglect of a dependent, as a Level 1 felony, following a jury trial.
    He presents two issues for our review:
    1.      Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it
    denied his motion to sever his trial from his codefendant’s
    trial.
    2.      Whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support
    his convictions.
    [2]   We affirm.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [3]   In February 2013, Diamond Miller and her son D.P. were living with
    Diamond’s father, William Miller, when she gave birth to her son E.P.
    Sometime in 2013, Diamond began dating Larkins, and in December 2013,
    Diamond, D.P., and E.P. began living with Larkins and Larkins’ elderly great
    grandmother, Gladys Brasher. Diamond and Larkins then had a daughter
    together, M.M.
    [4]   On Friday, October 24, 2014, Diamond dropped off D.P. and E.P. at William’s
    house for the weekend. E.P. showed no signs of illness over the weekend. On
    Monday, October 27, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Larkins and Diamond met
    William, D.P., and E.P. in a parking lot, and, while Larkins stayed seated in
    the driver’s seat of his truck, Diamond and William helped the boys move from
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 2 of 17
    William’s car into Larkins’ truck. As E.P. entered the truck, E.P. and Larkins
    made eye contact, and William observed that E.P. “looked spooked” as though
    he had “seen a ghost.” Tr. Vol. 3 at 18-19. William then drove Diamond to
    work, and Larkins drove D.P. and E.P. to Larkins’ brother’s house for a visit.
    Larkins’ brother Bryant was living with his girlfriend Jayna Tramble and
    Bryant’s children at the time. D.P. and E.P. played with Bryant’s children
    while Larkins visited with Bryant and Tramble for a couple of hours.
    [5]   After leaving Bryant’s residence, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Larkins drove
    D.P. and E.P. home. Larkins’ then eighty-five-year-old great grandmother,
    Brasher, was home that evening, but she mostly stayed in her bedroom with the
    door closed. When Diamond got home from work at approximately 10:00
    p.m., Larkins, D.P., and E.P. were eating dinner. But E.P. only took two bites
    of food and spit them out. E.P. complained of stomach pain. A short time
    later, Diamond called William to ask him what E.P. had eaten over the
    weekend. William reported that E.P. had eaten normally and seemed to be fine
    over the weekend. At some point, E.P. went to sleep for the night.
    [6]   On Tuesday, October 28, E.P. was lethargic and sick to his stomach. E.P. did
    not eat, and he vomited every time he tried to drink fluids. E.P. vomited eight
    to ten times that day. E.P.’s stomach was distended, but it “deflate[d]” after he
    vomited. Tr. Vol. 2 at 97. E.P. stayed still as much as possible to minimize the
    pain he was having. E.P. went to sleep at approximately 6:00 p.m. Diamond
    and Larkins heard E.P. moaning in pain in his bed, but he eventually quieted
    down.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 3 of 17
    [7]   At a little before 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, Diamond found E.P.
    unresponsive in his bed. Diamond woke Larkins, and they called 9-1-1. The 9-
    1-1 operator instructed Larkins to perform chest compressions on E.P. while
    they waited for emergency medical technicians (“EMT”) to arrive. When the
    EMTs arrived, they found Larkins giving chest compressions to E.P., who was
    lying on the floor in a hallway. EMT John Longstreet determined that E.P.
    was dead and was exhibiting rigor mortis, which indicated that E.P. had been
    dead for “an extended period of time.” 
    Id. at 28.
    Indianapolis Metropolitan
    Police Department officers and a deputy coroner, Jessica Miller, soon arrived at
    the apartment. At some point, Larkins told Miller that he “had an interest in”
    television shows involving medical diagnoses, and he asked her “what kind of
    injuries would cause [E.P.’s] abdomen to be found distended or rigid.” 
    Id. at 103.
    And Larkins asked Miller if she would be able to determine the cause of
    an abdominal injury to E.P. Miller told a homicide detective at the scene about
    Larkins’ questions.
    [8]   Larkins and Diamond gave voluntary statements to police officers. They
    explained that they thought E.P. had a stomach virus on Tuesday and that they
    had intended to take him to get medical treatment on Wednesday if he was not
    feeling better.
    [9]   Dr. Thomas Sozio conducted an autopsy and concluded that E.P. had died
    from an infection after he suffered blunt force trauma to his abdomen akin to
    what would be sustained in a “high speed car accident.” 
    Id. at 199.
    In
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 4 of 17
    particular, Dr. Sozio found that E.P’s duodenum1 had been severed such that
    “it had completely separated and it was torn in two pieces.” 
    Id. at 178.
    Dr.
    Sozio also found: a partial laceration to E.P.’s pancreas; a large amount of
    blood and pus in E.P’s abdomen; “some fat that had been torn”; and signs of an
    infection. 
    Id. at 177.
    Dr. Sozio concluded that if E.P. had received timely
    medical care after the impact injury, he could have had surgery to repair his
    injuries and treat the infection that ultimately killed him.
    [10]   The State charged Larkins with murder, a felony; aggravated battery, as a Level
    1 felony; two counts of neglect of a dependent, as Level 1 felonies; battery, as a
    Level 2 felony; and two counts of battery, as Level 5 felonies. 2 And the State
    charged Diamond with two counts of neglect of a dependent, as Level 1
    felonies. When the State indicated that it would try Larkins and Diamond
    together in a single trial, Larkins moved to sever the trials. The trial court
    denied that motion after a telephonic hearing.
    [11]   During the joint trial, the State presented expert testimony that E.P. died
    approximately eighteen to thirty-six hours after sustaining the blunt force
    trauma to his abdomen. No one could pinpoint the time of E.P.’s death, but
    the evidence showed that, because E.P. was exhibiting rigor mortis when EMTs
    arrived at 8:00 a.m. on October 29, he had “likely” been dead “for hours” at
    1
    The duodenum is the “first part of the small intestine after the stomach.” Tr. Vol. 2 at 177.
    2
    Prior to trial, the State dismissed the two Level 5 felony charges against Larkins.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017                Page 5 of 17
    that point. Tr. Vol. 3 at 97. And while there was no evidence to pinpoint the
    time of injury, Dr. Harris testified that it “would have happened after” E.P. had
    been playing with the kids at Bryant’s house, which was when Larkins was
    home with D.P. and E.P. on Monday evening. 
    Id. at 93.
    Finally, the State
    presented expert testimony that the blunt force trauma to E.P.’s abdomen was
    not the result of a fall and could not have been inflicted by another child.
    [12]   At the conclusion of trial, the jury found Larkins guilty of all but the murder
    charge, upon which the jurors could not find unanimity.3 The trial court
    entered judgment of conviction for aggravated battery, as a Level 1 felony, and
    neglect of a dependent, as a Level 1 felony. The court sentenced Larkins to
    concurrent thirty-four year sentences, with twenty years in the Department of
    Correction, eight years on work release, six years suspended, and two years on
    probation. This appeal ensued.
    Discussion and Decision
    Issue One: Motion to Sever Trials
    [13]   Larkins first contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied
    his motion to sever his trial from Diamond’s trial. Indiana Code Section 35-34-
    1-11(b) provides in relevant part that, upon a defendant’s motion, the court
    shall order a separate trial of codefendants whenever the court determines that a
    3
    The jury found Diamond guilty of one count of neglect of a dependent, as a Level 1 felony. We affirmed
    her conviction on appeal. Miller v. State, No. 49A02-1610-CR-2364, 
    2017 WL 1632534
    (Ind. Ct. App. May 2,
    2017).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017        Page 6 of 17
    separate trial is necessary to protect a defendant’s right to a speedy trial or is
    appropriate to promote a fair determination of the guilt or innocence of a
    defendant. But there is a strong judicial policy in favor of joint trials where
    codefendants are charged with the same crime. Lee v. State, 
    684 N.E.2d 1143
    ,
    1149 (Ind. 1997). The trial court has discretion to grant or deny a motion for
    separate trials. 
    Id. at 1147.
    In order to show an abuse of discretion in the denial
    of a motion for separate trials, the defendant must show actual prejudice. 
    Id. at 1148.
    It is the defendant’s burden to show that a fair trial could not otherwise
    have been had and “not merely that severance would enhance the prospects for
    acquittal.” 
    Id. at 1149
    (quoting Blacknell v. State, 
    502 N.E.2d 899
    , 905 (Ind.
    1987)).
    [14]   Larkins maintains that, over his objection, the trial court permitted the State to
    present evidence against Diamond that “would not have been admissible” if
    Larkins had been tried separately. Appellant’s Br. at 29. In particular, the State
    presented William’s testimony that, after Larkins and Diamond began living
    together, William: saw bruises “all over” E.P. “about every time” he saw him;
    repeatedly talked to Diamond about the bruises; disagreed with Diamond’s
    conclusion that the bruises were just a result of play with other kids; and told
    Diamond not to let “anybody watch the kids.” Tr. Vol. 3 at 10-11. William
    testified that Larkins was regularly taking care of the children in Diamond’s
    absence. 
    Id. at 11.
    [15]   Immediately before William began his testimony, the trial court admonished
    the jury as follows:
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 7 of 17
    With Mr. Miller’s testimony the Court is giving you another
    admonition, . . . [that] the testimony you are about to receive
    from Mr. Miller, until you are further advised by the Court, that
    this testimony is to be considered as to Defendant Miller only. It
    is not to be considered in any way, shape, or form against Mr.
    Larkins. It shall not be commented upon, referred to or in any
    way considered by the jury against Mr. Larkins.
    Tr. Vol. 3 at 5. Then, at the conclusion of William’s testimony regarding the
    frequent bruising he had seen on E.P., the trial court stated as follows:
    All right. Ladies and Gentlemen, again, the Court wants to draw
    the clear distinction of the information that you received up to
    this point that was admissible against Defendant Miller only.
    And it was admissible for the purpose for two reasons. One, to
    show the witness’s state of mind as to why he communicated,
    why he communicated to Ms. Miller about his observations. It
    also goes to Diamond Miller’s state of mind about what
    knowledge she may have had or what warnings she may have
    had about the health of her child or the care of her child. Again,
    you are not to consider it in any way, shape, or form for the truth
    of the matter, in the sense that there were bruises or whatever, he
    is not a medical expert. Nor has he testified in any way at this
    point that he saw anyone, especially and including Mr. Larkins
    create these injuries. That’s why you’re not permitted to use it
    against Mr. Larkins in any way, shape, or form. Because he
    doesn’t have that information and you’ve not heard it. So it’s
    only allowed for those two purposes, his state of mind as to why
    he said what he said, if you find that he said it, and Ms. Miller’s
    state of mind if she heard it and what she knew or may not have
    known about any warnings about Mr. Larkins. That’s the only
    thing you can use it for. . . .
    
    Id. at 11-12.
    The trial court asked the jurors to indicate whether they did not
    understand the admonishment, and none of the jurors so indicated. The trial
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 8 of 17
    court also instructed the jury in relevant part as follows: “Any evidence which
    was limited to one defendant should not be considered by you as to any other
    defendant. You should give separate consideration to each defendant.”
    Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 102.
    [16]   Larkins contends that he was denied a fair trial because “William’s testimony
    about the bruises, and his opinion regarding their source, would not have been
    admissible [under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b)] if Larkins had been tried
    alone.” Appellant’s Br. at 31. And Larkins maintains that he was prejudiced
    by that testimony and that the trial court’s admonitions and instructions “did
    not eliminate the prejudice.” 
    Id. We cannot
    agree.
    [17]   First, it is well settled that we presume the jury followed the trial court’s
    admonishments and that the excluded testimony played no part in the jury’s
    deliberation, Francis v. State, 
    758 N.E.2d 528
    , 532 (Ind. 2001), and when the
    jury is properly instructed, we presume they followed such instructions.
    Weisheit v. State, 
    26 N.E.3d 3
    , 20 (Ind. 2015) (citation omitted). Indeed, as the
    State points out, it appears that the jury disregarded William’s testimony
    altogether in that it acquitted Diamond of the neglect of a dependent charge
    based on her conduct in leaving E.P. in Larkins’ care despite having been
    notified that Larkins might be abusing E.P.4 Further, during deliberations, the
    jury asked the trial court for information regarding any “Child Protective
    4
    The jury convicted Diamond of neglect of a dependent based on her failure to timely obtain medical
    treatment for E.P.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017            Page 9 of 17
    Service records,” “witnesses of any abuse of the children,” and “any criminal
    record of Frank Larkins.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 135. Those questions
    suggest that the jury did not improperly consider William’s testimony in
    determining Larkins’ guilt. Larkins has not shown that he was denied a fair
    trial as a result of William’s testimony.
    [18]   Moreover, we reject Larkins’ contention that “William’s testimony about the
    bruises, and his opinion regarding their source, would not have been admissible
    if Larkins had been tried alone.” Appellant’s Br. at 31. To the contrary, that
    testimony might have been admissible in a separate trial against Larkins under
    an exception to Evidence Rule 404(b), which provides that evidence of prior
    bad acts may be admissible to prove motive, opportunity, intent, preparation,
    plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident. For
    example, in Clemons v. State, 
    610 N.E.2d 236
    (Ind. 1993), during the defendant’s
    trial on charges that he had abused one of his twin sons, the State introduced
    evidence that the defendant had previously abused his other twin son. Our
    supreme court held that such evidence was admissible to show the defendant’s
    modus operandi, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident. 
    Id. at 242-43.
    Again, Larkins has not shown that he was denied a fair trial because of the trial
    court’s admission of William’s testimony regarding his suspicions that Larkins
    had previously abused E.P.
    [19]   Finally, Larkins contends that he was prejudiced by William’s testimony
    because the trial court prohibited his defense counsel from cross-examining
    William. In support of that contention, Larkins cites Bruton v. United States, 391
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 10 of 
    17 U.S. 123
    , 126 (1968), where the Supreme Court held that the trial court’s
    admission of a codefendant’s confession into evidence at a joint trial violated
    the defendant’s right to cross-examination. Larkins concedes that Bruton “is not
    directly on point,” but he maintains that, “as in Bruton, the testimony would not
    have been admissible if Larkins had been tried alone, and it was not subject to
    cross-examination.” Appellant’s Br. at 9. But, again, William’s testimony
    might have been admissible at a separate trial. Further, during the joint trial,
    William was subject to thorough cross-examination by Diamond’s defense
    counsel, and Larkins does not assert that he would have elicited different
    testimony from William if he had been permitted to cross-examine him. Again,
    Larkins has not demonstrated that he was denied a fair trial. The trial court did
    not abuse its discretion when it denied Larkins’ motion to sever.
    Issue Two: Sufficiency of the Evidence
    [20]   Larkins contends that the State presented insufficient evidence to support his
    convictions. Our standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence needed
    to support a criminal conviction is as follows:
    First, we neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of
    witnesses. Second, we only consider the evidence supporting the
    [verdict] and any reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
    such evidence. A conviction will be affirmed if there is
    substantial evidence of probative value supporting each element
    of the offense such that a reasonable trier of fact could have
    found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the
    job of the fact-finder to determine whether the evidence in a
    particular case sufficiently proves each element of an offense, and
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 11 of 17
    we consider conflicting evidence most favorably to the trial
    court’s ruling.
    Willis v. State, 
    27 N.E.3d 1065
    , 1066-67 (Ind. 2015) (citations and quotation
    marks omitted).
    Aggravated Battery
    [21]   To prove aggravated battery, as a Level 1 felony, the State was required to show
    that Larkins knowingly or intentionally inflicted injury on E.P., that is, a
    lacerated pancreas and/or a lacerated duodenum, that created a substantial risk
    of death and did result in the death of E.P., who was under the age of fourteen.
    See Ind. Code § 35-42-2-1.5 (2017). Larkins maintains that the State did not
    prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was the person who injured E.P.
    Larkins asserts that no one “ever saw [him] hitting or abusing” E.P.; he did not
    make any incriminating statements; and there is no physical evidence
    implicating him. Appellant’s Br. at 18. And Larkins contends that the injury to
    E.P. “could have been inflicted any time between 10:00 a.m. on Monday,
    [when E.P. was in William’s care], and 9:30 p.m. on Monday, when [E.P.]
    started exhibiting symptoms.” 
    Id. at 19.
    Larkins maintains that “seven
    different adults had access to” E.P. during that time frame and, thus, each had
    the opportunity to hurt E.P. 
    Id. [22] Larkins’
    contentions amount to a request that we reweigh the evidence, which
    we will not do. Dr. Harris explained how E.P. would have reacted to the injury
    that led to his death:
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 12 of 17
    It would have been a very painful injury. So he certainly
    would have been crying and would have been indicating pain to
    that area of his abdomen. Smaller babies can’t always tell us
    exactly where it hurts, but a twenty[-]month[-]old can. So I
    would expect him to have been indicating abdomen pain, crying,
    upset. After that he may have calmed down some. But this type
    of injury causes increasing pain over time and increasing
    discomfort with movement. So if he held perfectly still he may
    have been able to decrease or control his pain somewhat. But
    moving around would have been really uncomfortable.
    Tr. Vol. 3 at 85 (emphasis added). The State presented evidence that E.P.
    showed no signs of injury, either crying or indicating pain, prior to his return
    home with Larkins on Monday evening. Thus, Larkins’ contentions that
    William, William’s neighbor,5 Bryant, or Tramble may have inflicted the injury
    to E.P. are without merit. To the extent Larkins contends that his eighty-five-
    year-old great grandmother may have inflicted the injury to E.P., Larkins does
    not direct us to any evidence suggesting either that she had the physical strength
    to inflict the injury or that she was ever alone with E.P. on Monday evening.
    Finally, Larkins asserts that Diamond may have inflicted the injury on E.P., but
    the State presented evidence that E.P. was already exhibiting symptoms of the
    injury when Diamond arrived home from work on Monday evening.
    [23]   Further, we disagree with Larkins that he did not make incriminating
    statements. When EMTs and police arrived at the residence on Wednesday
    5
    Larkins states that a neighbor visited William over the weekend when E.P. was staying with William.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017           Page 13 of 17
    morning, Larkins stated that E.P. had been awake that morning and had shown
    signs of life as Larkins performed CPR on him. But the undisputed evidence
    showed that E.P. exhibited rigor mortis that morning and that E.P. had been
    dead for an extended period of time. Dr. Harris testified that “false histories
    [are] provided more often when injuries have been inflicted” by the person
    reporting the history. 
    Id. at 98.
    In addition, at the scene, shortly after the
    EMTs had declared that E.P. was dead, Larkins asked questions about the
    deputy coroner’s ability to find the cause of the abdominal injury to E.P., which
    seemed inappropriate under the circumstances.
    [24]   In sum, the State presented evidence that E.P. sustained a blunt force injury to
    his abdomen during the evening of October 27, when he was home with
    Larkins, D.P., and Larkins’ elderly great grandmother. Again, E.P. was
    exhibiting signs of the injury when Diamond arrived home from work that
    evening. We hold that the State presented sufficient evidence to support
    Larkins’ aggravated battery conviction.
    Neglect of a Dependent
    [25]   To prove neglect of a dependent, as a Level 1 felony, the State was required to
    show that Larkins, being at least eighteen years of age and having the care of
    E.P., a dependent less than fourteen years of age, did knowingly place E.P. in a
    situation that endangered E.P.’s life or health, that is, failed to obtain timely
    medical treatment for E.P. and which resulted in the death of E.P. See I.C. §
    35-46-1-4. Larkins contends that “there is no evidence that E.P.’s need for
    medical care was apparent, or that Larkins was actually and subjectively aware
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 14 of 17
    of that need.” Appellant’s Br. at 25. Larkins asserts that E.P.’s fatal injury was
    internal and exhibited no “external bruising or damage.” 
    Id. And Larkins
    maintains that he reasonably believed that E.P. was suffering from a stomach
    virus that did not require immediate medical attention. We cannot agree.
    [26]   First, we note that Diamond made similar arguments in her brief on appeal,
    which another panel of this court rejected. In Miller, we held as follows:
    In the context of a neglect conviction resulting from the alleged
    failure to provide timely medical care, it has been established that
    “[w]hen there are symptoms from which the average layperson
    would have detected a serious problem necessitating medical
    attention, it is reasonable for the jury to infer that the defendant
    knowingly neglected the dependent.” Mitchell v. State, 
    726 N.E.2d 1228
    , 1240 (Ind. 2000), abrogated on other grounds, 
    924 N.E.2d 643
    (Ind. 2010).
    Miller insists that the evidence establishes only that her child was
    vomiting and feeling unwell, and that a reasonable parent would
    not necessarily have sought medical attention within the first
    twenty-four hours of such symptoms. The record readily reveals
    symptoms far beyond vomiting, however:
    • Monday night, E.P. did not want to eat, was complaining of
    stomach pain, and was lethargic and sleepy.
    • Throughout the day on Tuesday, E.P.’s pain worsened. He was
    thirsty and attempted to drink fluids, but vomited up everything
    he took in.
    • Dr. Harris testified that throughout this time, E.P.’s pain and
    discomfort would have escalated, causing him to cry and try to
    be as still as possible, which Miller testified that, in fact, he did.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 15 of 17
    • Tuesday night, Miller observed that E.P. could not sleep
    because of his pain and heard him groaning as he remained
    motionless to control the pain. She fell asleep that night to the
    sound of his moans.
    • Dr. Harris testified that throughout this period, E.P.’s abdomen
    would have become more and more bloated until it was visibly
    bloated and very tense. That was, in fact, the state of his
    abdomen when the paramedic found the child dead on
    Wednesday morning.
    We agree with Miller that, if vomiting had been E.P.’s only
    symptom, a conviction for neglect would likely be unwarranted.
    Here, however, the jury reasonably rejected that argument,
    concluding that E.P. had many other troubling symptoms that
    would have caused an average layperson to seek medical
    treatment for the child.
    Slip op. at 2-3.
    [27]   We agree with the analysis in Miller and hold that, given the evidence, the jury
    reasonably concluded that Larkins was also guilty of neglect of a dependent as
    charged. Moreover, because the State presented sufficient evidence to prove
    that Larkins inflicted the life-threatening injury upon E.P., that is further
    evidence that Larkins was subjectively aware that E.P. required medical
    treatment. See Lush v. State, 
    783 N.E.2d 1191
    , 1197 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). In
    other words, the evidence shows that Larkins “was in a position to understand
    the urgency of the situation and that medical attention was needed.” 
    Id. We hold
    that the State presented sufficient evidence to support Larkins’ conviction
    for neglect of a dependent.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 16 of 17
    [28]   Affirmed.
    Riley, J., and Bradford, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1611-CR-2516 | June 13, 2017   Page 17 of 17