A three-year-old girl has died in a Missouri motel room following what police describe as a sustained campaign of brutal abuse and neglect by her father and his girlfriend. The tragic case has ignited community fury and calls for legal changes to protect vulnerable children.
Horrific Details of Abuse Emerge
Police were called to the Classic Motel in Higginsville on December 23 after reports of a child not breathing. They discovered Novaleigh Galloway dead in the room. Her father, 30-year-old Kyle Galloway, and his girlfriend, 36-year-old Deanne Kay Hankins, were immediately arrested.
Court records allege the toddler had marks on her wrists and feet, indicating she had been restrained. She also had black eyes, pointing to severe physical abuse. Investigators found drug paraphernalia and meth in the motel room.
During questioning, Galloway allegedly admitted his daughter had been zip-tied due to 'behavioural issues.' He claimed Hankins had hit Novaleigh in the head and mouth earlier on the day she died. Hankins reportedly denied using zip ties but admitted the child was tied down and had cuts. She also confessed to hitting Novaleigh on the back of the head for disobedience.
A Final, Fatal Night of Violence
The alleged abuse culminated in a final, fatal assault. After a day of beatings and verbal abuse, the couple tried to put Novaleigh to bed. When she resisted, Galloway, allegedly frustrated, kicked her in the back of the head. Hankins later told police Galloway remarked, 'Oh, that might have been a little hard.'
The pair then placed the unresponsive child in her cot without checking on her. Later, hearing heavy breathing, they found her unresponsive and called 911. It was too late.
Novaleigh's mother, Americus Perkins, said Galloway had visitation rights and she had not seen her daughter for months. The child's maternal grandmother, Crystal Boyd, claimed on Facebook the family had been searching for Novaleigh for six to eight months, alleging Galloway was 'hiding out' with her.
Community Reaction and Calls for Change
The case has provoked a powerful public response. Boyd set up a GoFundMe for funeral costs, which has raised approximately $4,600. Novaleigh was remembered as a joyful girl who loved the outdoors and playing the harmonica.
Two significant petitions have emerged. One seeks to have the Classic Motel shut down, calling it a focal point for risky activities. Another, titled 'Pass Novaleigh's Law: Protect Missouri Children During Unsafe Visitation,' aims to reform state laws. It argues current thresholds for intervention are too high, requiring visible injury before action can be taken.
Public records show Kyle Galloway has a lengthy criminal history, including prior charges for child welfare endangerment and domestic assault. Hankins also has a prior arrest for drug possession.
Both suspects remain in Lafayette County Jail without bond, each charged with felony counts of child neglect, endangering the welfare of a child, and drug possession. The investigation continues, and an official cause of death is pending.
