INDIANOLA, IOWA – An Iowa daycare woman trusted by parents to care for their precious offspring is accused today of murdering a baby boy.
The Indianola Police Department, following a joint investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Warren County Attorney’s Office, has charged 51-year-old Melissa Hancock of Indianola, Iowa, with first-degree murder in connection with the October 12, 2024, death of a 4-month-old infant who was in her care.
At approximately 11:55 AM on October 8, 2024, the Indianola Police Department and Indianola Fire Department were dispatched to a 911 call from Hancock’s in-home daycare at 307 E Clinton Avenue in Indianola. First responders found an unresponsive 4-month-old inside the home. The infant was air-lifted to a Des Moines hospital, where he passed away on October 12, 2024.
The investigation and medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with child abuse caused by Hancock.
First-degree murder is a Class A felony in Iowa.
Hancock turned herself in at approximately 7:30 AM on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. She is currently being held at the Warren County Jail on a $1 million bond.