Babysitter, Boyfriend Charged in Jada's Death

Pair facing multiple charges including neglect of a dependent

By RYAN POLLYEA and BJ LUTZ

Updated 5:01 PM CST, Fri, Jun 26, 2009

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Formal charges were announced Friday against the cousin and her boyfriend in the death of a 2-year-old girl who was reported missing earlier this month.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter announced formal charges against Engelica Castillo, 18, and Tim Tkachick, 23, in the death of 2-year-old Jada Justice.

Authorities believe Justice likely had been killed and encased in concrete in shallow water for three days in LaPorte County by the time she was falsely reported missing, The Times of Northwest Indiana reports this morning.

Castillo was babysitting the toddler the night she claimed the young girl disappeared from her car while Castillo was getting milk from a gas station in Gary, Ind. After Justice was reported missing on June 16, law enforcement agencies and countless volunteers joined the search for the young girl. The search ended Thursday in LaPorte County, Ind., when investigators discovered what they believed to be Justice's body near Otis, Ind.

"This tragic ending is not the outcome we were all hoping for," Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement. "My condolences to all the family and friends of this precious child."

Castillo and Tkachick are each facing murder charges, along with charges of neglect of a dependent, battery, and false informing, according to Lake County Prosecutors. If convicted of all the charges listed against them, they each face a maximum of 65 years behind bars.

Lake County Prosecutors have charged Tim Tkachik, 23, of Hobart, Indiana with the murder of two-year-old Jada Justice.

Lake County Prosecutors have charged Engelica Castillo, 18, of Hobart, Indiana with the murder of her two-year-old cousin Jada Justice.

The charges came hours after the Lake County Indiana Coroner's Office declared that the discovery was, in fact, the remains of the missing two-year-old girl. An autopsy performed Friday morning concluded that Justice's death was a homicide, though authorities are withholding the cause of death.

Castillo and Tkachick are presently both being held in Lake County Jail without bond, according to the Lake County Prosecutor's Office.

From NWI.com: Footage from Thursday's news conference: