Mom of 2-year-old girl killed in alleged child abuse death sues Dad's fiancée

Feb. 08--The mother of a 2-year-old girl who died last year at her father's house in Gardner has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Presley Russom, who has also been identified in court documents as Presley Porting, died in February 2017.

Her father's fiancée, Lindsey Thomasson, is charged in Johnson County District Court with felony first-degree murder in the child's death. The charge alleges that the little girl died as a result of child abuse.

Thomasson is a defendant in the civil suit filed Tuesday on behalf of Presley's mother, Stephanie Porting.

Presley's father, Nick Russom, also is named as a defendant in the civil suit.

Presley lived with her father and Thomasson in Gardner, according to the suit.

Thomasson was babysitting the girl when her father left to run an errand.

When he returned, he asked Thomasson to wake his daughter so he could give her a snack.

According to the suit, Thomasson walked into the girl's bedroom. Her father reported hearing a scream. He went in and found his daughter dead.

The lawsuit accuses Lindsey Thomasson of committing intentional battery against Presley as well as negligent physical discipline.

Presley's father was aware of or should have been aware of previous physical abuse of his daughter, allegedly at the hands of Thomasson, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also names Thomasson's father, Michael Thomasson, as a defendant, and alleges that he too knew of or should have known of his daughter's alleged abuse of Presley.

Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc

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