Authorities in Missouri report a tragic incident involving a 3-year-old girl who suffered verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her father and his acquaintance, culminating in her death in a motel room just days before Christmas.

Kyle Galloway and Deanne Kay Hankins face multiple charges, including child abuse or neglect leading to serious harm, first-degree endangerment of a child, and creating a substantial risk. These charges stem from the death of Galloway’s daughter, Novaleigh Galloway, which occurred last week.

The duo allegedly resorted to kicking and striking the child on her head and mouth as a form of punishment for what they deemed “misbehavior.” Additionally, they reportedly used zip ties to restrain her, and subjected her to verbal abuse, confessing to “loudly scolding” her, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Galloway admitted to using physical discipline on Novaleigh, which included hitting her on the body and mouth to correct her behavior. He confessed to disciplining her repeatedly throughout the day and night before her death due to her perceived misbehavior.

The tragic situation came to a head on December 23 when Galloway and Hankins contacted the police, reporting that Novaleigh had stopped breathing as she tried to sleep. Upon arriving at the Classic Motel in Higginsville, officers found the child deceased, bearing signs of physical abuse such as black eyes and ligature marks on her wrists and feet.

“[Galloway] ultimately stated before this morning of the death, [Novaleigh] was zip-tied and partially restrained due to her behavioral issues, which matched the ligature marks on [Novaleigh’s] wrists and feet,” the affidavit alleges. “[Galloway] stated he observed [Hankins] physically discipline [Novaleigh] by striking [the child] in her head and mouth. [Galloway] described the ‘discipline’ as excessive due to the noise and force used.”

During the night, as they were attempting to go to sleep, Hankins told cops she allegedly tried several times to get Novaleigh to go down, but she “failed to do so” as she continued her “bad behavior.” She allegedly claimed that Galloway “got upset” and kicked Novaleigh in the head.

“Oh, that might have been a little hard,” Hankins recalled Galloway saying after the kick, according to the affidavit. The pair allegedly told Novaleigh “to go to sleep as she laid down on her cot” without checking to see if she was okay or rendering aid.

“[Novaleigh] was covered up with a blanket,” the affidavit says, noting how the adults “thought the child was going to sleep.” They both told police that they heard Novaleigh “making loud breathing sounds, but thought she was playing or misbehaving like she normally did,” according to the affidavit.

Galloway and Hankins both described the alleged abuse that unfolded before Novaleigh’s death, including how they “bound” her and “smacked her” in the mouth and on her head “to correct her behavior,” the affidavit says.

A search of the motel room led to the alleged discovery of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. Police say Hankins admitted that the drugs were hers, while Galloway claimed he did not use narcotics but knew they were in the room.

Galloway and Hankins were arrested and booked in the Lafayette County jail. They were being held on Monday without bond.

A petition has been launched to shut down the Classic Motel as it has allegedly become “a focal point for concerning activities that put the members of our community at risk,” according to the petition’s description.

“Many residents have reported increased incidents of crime, illicit activities, and disturbances related directly to the operations of the Classic Motel,” the petition says. “Parents are anxious when their children have to pass by, and many of us feel compelled to avoid the area completely. The once quiet neighborhood is now shadowed by issues that were unheard of before its operation.”

Motel management did not respond to Law&Crime’s requests for comment.