Man Charged with Murder of Girlfriend's 5-Year-Old Son

An Indiana man, 32-year-old Brice Bainum, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend's 5-year-old son. Bainum was taken into custody on Tuesday following the child's tragic death, according to court records. He is also facing an additional charge of interfering with the reporting of a crime, as he allegedly prevented his girlfriend from seeking medical help for her son or contacting the authorities.

The Michigan City Police Department reported that they received a 911 call around 7:16 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2025, regarding an unresponsive 5-year-old boy at a residence on Normandy Drive, approximately 150 miles north of Indianapolis. Upon arrival, officers, along with the Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Services, found the victim inside the home and immediately transported him to Franciscan Hospital.

Due to the severity of his injuries, the child was airlifted to the University of Chicago Children's Comer Hospital for advanced medical treatment. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, the boy succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:02 p.m.

The Investigative Division of the Michigan City Police Department was called to the scene. With assistance from the LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office, a search warrant was obtained for the residence. The scene was processed and evidence was collected.

An autopsy revealed that the child had suffered a range of injuries, including a brain bleed and visible bruising on his head, back, and buttocks. The cause of death was determined to be injuries sustained from an assault, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Court documents revealed disturbing details about the events leading up to the child's death. The boy's mother initially told investigators that she did not believe Bainum would harm her son. However, her account changed as the interview progressed. She reported that Bainum had punished the child for being "disrespectful" by forcing him to take a cold shower and apologize repeatedly for an hour. She also witnessed Bainum yelling at the boy, who appeared frightened and had seemingly been hit hard.

Bainum reportedly claimed that the boy had bitten him, leaving a mark. When the mother attempted to intervene, Bainum allegedly responded aggressively. Hours later, the mother found her son unresponsive and cold on his bedroom floor. When she tried to call 911, Bainum allegedly took the phone from her and refused to return it for over an hour. When she was finally able to call for help, Bainum allegedly instructed her on what to tell the police.

The mother also reported that Bainum would often become "jealous" if she showed her son too much attention and would punish him in cruel ways, including forcing him to eat hot sauce for crying and verbally abusing him.

Bainum is currently being held in LaPorte County Jail on a $1 million bond. His initial court hearing is scheduled for March 11.