10-Year-Old Gas City Girl Was Strangled To Death: Coroner

GAS CITY, IN — Indiana State Police said an autopsy conducted Wednesday on the body of 10-year-old Gas City girl found just hours earlier in a shed, behind her home has determined the cause of her death. According to a release from ISP, Dr. Scott Wagner of the Ft. Wayne Forensic Examination Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital determined Skylea Carmack's cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation. The manner of death was homicide, police added.

The four-day search for a missing Carmack came to a tragic end at 3 a.m. Wednesday, as her body was found hidden inside a plastic trash bag in a shed behind her Gas City home. According to a release from ISP, Skylea's 34-year-old stepmother, Amanda Carmack, was arrested Wednesday morning, accused of murdering Skylea, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, domestic battery resulting in death, and strangulation.

Indiana State Police said Skylea was last seen at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Initial evidence shows she was killed between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, and also indicated she was strangled, according to ISP.

Amanda is being held at the Grant County Jail, according to the release. Jail records indicate she is being held without bond.

ISP said the assistance, man power and resources of multiple law enforcement agencies, fire departments and community volunteers in the search for Skylea is greatly appreciated.

Patch will update this breaking news as more information becomes available.