A 3-year-old girl was found dead inside a room at the Classic Motel in this Lafayette County city on Dec. 23, and prosecutors have charged her father and his girlfriend with multiple felonies after investigators documented black eyes, ligature marks and statements about using zip ties for “behavioral issues,” authorities said.
Police identified the child as Novaleigh Galloway. Her father, Kyle Galloway, 30, and his girlfriend, Deanna (also listed as Deanne) Kay Hankins, 36, were arrested at the motel. Both face counts of abuse or neglect of a child resulting in serious emotional or physical injury, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk, and possession of a controlled substance after suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia were found in the room, according to charging documents. Investigators say a medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. The case stunned this small community east of Kansas City and drew in county and state investigators during the holiday week.
Officers and medics responded to the Classic Motel shortly before midday Tuesday after a 911 call reported an unresponsive child. First responders found Novaleigh without signs of life on a bed and noted bruising around both eyes and what appeared to be ligature impressions at her wrists and ankles. A probable-cause statement says Galloway acknowledged restraining the child with zip ties at times, calling it an attempt to manage “bad behavior.” Hankins told detectives that during the night, as Novaleigh resisted going to sleep, Galloway “got upset and kicked [her] in the head,” adding that he remarked, “That might have been a little hard,” before she later found the child unresponsive, according to the document.
Investigators collected plastic restraints, bedding and clothing as evidence and photographed marks on the child consistent with bindings. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office said both adults admitted to “discipline” that included slapping and swatting; detectives characterized the actions as excessive force in statements summarized in court papers. In addition to the alleged physical abuse, officers said they recovered a small bag containing a crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, along with glass pipes. No other children were found in the room. Authorities have not announced additional suspects and said the inquiry is focused on the two adults who had custody of the child in the hours leading up to her death.
Records indicate Galloway and Hankins had been staying at the roadside motel in Higginsville for several days. The Classic Motel sits along U.S. 13, a few blocks from downtown, and serves long-term guests as well as travelers. Neighbors told reporters the parking lot was quiet that morning until patrol cars and an ambulance arrived. By afternoon, yellow tape ringed the second-floor walkway. Detectives from Higginsville police and the sheriff’s office took measurements inside the room and canvassed for surveillance footage from nearby businesses that face the property’s entrances and parking stalls.
Authorities said an autopsy will examine head trauma, possible asphyxiation, and whether the wrist and ankle marks reflect restraint over a prolonged period. Toxicology testing will also be performed. Prosecutors said the child-abuse counts reflect both alleged acts and omissions, including failure to seek timely medical care. Officials declined to discuss full interview transcripts but said statements by both defendants referenced using restraints as “discipline” and described a chaotic night as the girl cried and resisted sleep. Investigators are reviewing phone messages and call logs from the hours before the 911 call to refine the timeline.
Higginsville, a city of about 5,000, rarely sees high-profile child death cases. The motel corridor, lined with small shops and a trucking yard, drew onlookers as officers moved in and out carrying paper evidence bags. Residents placed stuffed animals and candles near a utility pole by the driveway after relatives identified the child as Novaleigh on social media. A family member described her as a happy child who loved being outdoors and sipping sweet tea, sentiments later echoed in an online obituary posted by relatives.
Court procedures began this week in Lafayette County. Initial appearances addressed custody status, discovery and scheduling. A judge ordered both defendants held while prosecutors finalize filings and while the medical examiner completes preliminary findings. Defense counsel was not listed for either defendant in early docket entries. Next steps typically include a bond review, arraignment on the felony counts, and a probable-cause setting to determine whether the case proceeds to circuit court for trial. If a grand jury is convened, jurors could hear from detectives who processed the motel room and from medical personnel involved in the autopsy.
Investigators outlined standard follow-up: comparing plastic restraints and any tool marks; submitting swabs from the bed, zip ties and clothing for DNA; and correlating statements with time-stamped video pulled from motel cameras and nearby businesses. Detectives are also checking prior calls for service involving the defendants and reviewing any child-welfare contacts that could inform the history inside the family. Officials said additional charges could be considered depending on autopsy results and evidence of prior injuries.
Outside the taped walkway, the motel signage flickered as dusk fell and temperatures dropped. A small memorial grew near the curb: a pink plush toy, a tea light in a glass jar, and a handwritten note addressing “Nova.” A neighbor said he watched officers remove a box of plastic ties and a bag of clothing from the room. “It’s hard to think about,” he said, staring at the second-story door. By evening, investigators had cleared most of the scene, leaving a patrol car parked by the driveway as evidence technicians finished cataloging items and sealed the room.
As of Thu., Jan. 1, both defendants remain jailed in Lafayette County on the filed charges. The medical examiner’s initial findings are expected in the coming days, and prosecutors said they will review autopsy results before making any decisions on additional counts or amendments to the case. A court calendar update is anticipated after the first appearance and bond discussions are completed.
Author note: Last updated January 1, 2026.