A TODDLER who tragically died after overdosing on painkillers had lived in “absolute filth” surrounded by animal poo and maggots, a court heard.

Ariana McKay, 3, had to fend for herself after being left “alone and helpless, without food and supervision,” a judge was told.

The toddler died in 2022 at a Twin Cities hospital in Tokio, North Dakota, reported Inforum.

She had drunk an entire bottle of adult liquid Tylenol, a pain relief medication, according to North Dakota Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Conroy, the prosecutor in the case.

Ariana showed signs of being sick 24 hours before she was found unconscious.

However, prosecutors said the toddler’s guardians, Austin Lester, 28, and Krissy Hinsley, 25, both from Tokio, used drugs instead of immediately taking her to the hospital.

The little girl was found unresponsive on August 23, 2022, in Hinsley’s basement, said court filings.

If an antidote for the acetaminophen overdose had been promptly given by a doctor, she could have lived, the court was told by prosecutors.

But, tragically it was too late by the time paramedics were called to the home, and doctors at the local hospital said she had no brain activity.

Ariana was declared dead four days later, after being taken off life support.

“Because of her (Hinsley’s) inaction, this child needlessly died,” Conroy said.

Court documents criticized the lack of hygiene at the toddler’s home, saying, “Her bed was a concrete floor soiled with animal waste, an uncleaned litter box, and maggots.”

Ariana was “left alone and helpless, without food and supervision,” the filings added.

On Monday, Hinsley pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect in connection to her death.

This followed an initial court appearance by Hinsley and Lester on April 19, 2024, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, on charges of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child neglect in Indian country.

The charge of involuntary manslaughter against Hinsley was dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Peter Welte sentenced Hinsley to a decade in federal prison.

CRUELTY

He told Hinsley on Monday that little Ariana had suffered cruelty “beyond human comprehension” after suffering “extreme indifference.”

“This child was put through hell on Earth,” Welte added.

Hinsley and Lester – the tot’s dad – were dating, and the couple were living together at the time of the girl’s death.

Ariana had previously lived with her maternal grandparents, according to prosecutors.

NEGLECT

However, after they were accused of neglecting other kids in their care, Ariana was returned to her dad’s care in 2021.

Prosecutors said that Lester and Hinsley had left the girl by herself while they used drugs.

“Regardless of how she ingested the acetaminophen, Jane Doe (McKay) died because Lester and his co-defendant (Hinsley) callously ignored her condition and eschewed the opportunity to seek medical help while they used controlled substances,” court documents said.

Prosecutors added that Ariana’s meals would be removed before she could eat her food.

BEATEN

Her dad had struck her “pretty often,” according to court documents.

He was charged with assault of a child with a dangerous weapon, after allegedly hitting Ariana with a wooden backscratcher.

Lester has since pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, assault and child neglect. His sentencing hearing is scheduled to start on August 5.

Conroy said that the toddler’s autopsy showed she had suffered multiple blunt force injuries. But these had not contributed to her death.

UNCONSCIOUS

The attorney said that the couple had noticed that Ariana had been ill 24 hours before the tot was discovered unconscious.

The toddler had been “repeatedly” dosed with acetaminophen – the painkiller – “over time” in an effort to “subdue” her, court filings claimed.

She had been forced to live in “absolute filth,” according to Conroy.

Lorna Jackson-Street, Spirit Lake Nation chairwoman, said in a statement to The Forum, “Ariana McKay was a beloved member of our Spirit Lake Nation, and her life was sacred.

“Today’s sentencing represents a step toward justice, but no legal outcome can restore the precious life that was taken.”

Following Hinsley’s imprisonment, people have agreed with the U.S. District Judge Peter Welte’s statement that jailing Ariana’s guardian for a decade didn’t appear to provide enough justice for the dead girl.

One woman slammed the outcome on social media, writing, “I’m sorry, 10 years is not enough for taking the life of a sweet 3 year old!”

Another posted, “10 years – are you kidding? A child lost its life… they should get life since they took a life.”