Community continues to reel after 3-year-old dies in fall from apartment building

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - There is still much to learn surrounding the tragic death of a toddler on Monday, but KCTV5 is getting some answers.

The boy’s grandmother has shared through a GoFundMe page that the boy’s name was Titus. The page says she’s working to make funeral arrangements for her beloved grandson.

A small memorial outside of the Independence Towers apartment complex is building—a telephone pole wrapped in paper with dinosaurs, toys, and flowers. Those who knew the boy and those who didn’t are heartbroken by the 3-year-old’s death.

But what happened inside that apartment Monday morning? KCTV5 has developed a timeline of what investigators know through interviews with the parents. Their notes go back to Sunday night.

The mother, Destiny Randle, told investigators the last check on the kids was 11 p.m. The next morning, Randle said she was awake around 10 a.m. and didn’t hear anything from the kids’ room.

The father, Moses Bass, was up walking the dog. There is no mention in the report that indicates he checked on the children that morning before going out with the dog.

READ MORE: Parents knew of window safety hazards for a year before toddler fell to his death: court records

When Bass returned to the building, he noticed first responders outside and called Randle.

She went to the children’s room and told investigators she realized Titus is missing and the window was open.

Titus was rushed to Children’s Mercy Hospital and was pronounced dead at 12:46 p.m.

Investigators noted other facts outlined in court documents.

The report says the parents had known the window was a hazard for more than a year. They said a blue metal pole was used to prevent it from being opened. But police never found the blue pole in their search of the apartment.

A witness told police that toys had been thrown from the window for eight months.

The inside of the door of the room the children shared had a child safety knob, so the kids couldn’t get out. The report said the whole apartment was filthy. There were no sheets on the beds in the kids’ room, there were diapers on the ground, and a smell of urine.

Another child told investigators he was in the room with Titus at the time. He had marks on his arms and legs and told investigators about “Mr. Blacky.”  The child drew investigators a picture -- which helped them learn “Mr. Blacky” is a belt. Police did find it — Bass told them it was in his shorts still in the apartment.

READ MORE: Toddler falls to death from apartment, sends shockwaves through community

KCTV5 spoke with an organizer with KC Tenants. Justin Stein said he hoped change could come from this tragedy and said he met the family at a community barbeque recently. He said they were all very friendly. He is asking the community to come together to help the family through this difficult time.

“It’s been a tragic week for everyone,” said Stein. “We are collecting donations of diapers, formula, baby formula, and also snacks and juice to the family to take care of the kids.”

KC Tenants can be reached through social media to arrange for collection.

The parents face up to life in prison if convicted of the charges of endangering the welfare of a child.

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