Murdered toddler was found wandering alone in restaurant before death

ANDERSON, Ind. -- (WXIN) -- Paisley Hudson, a toddler found murdered in July, was found wandering around by herself at night just two months before her death.

Hudson's mom was living with her kids and boyfriend at the Red Roof Inn in Anderson. On night in May, staff at a restaurant found Hudson inside the business by herself. The restaurant is two parking lots away from the motel.

"It was about 9:30-ish when we were having our carpets cleaned up and the doors were wide open," said Ricky Rosas, manager at the restaurant. "I just come out and there was a kid right there, with two teddy bears and no shoes, just walking in the building."

Anderson police say an officer responded and did a thorough investigation. They say the child was covered in some lipstick but, according to police, she did not appear to have any visible injuries and there was “no evidence to support child neglect” at that time. So Hudson was returned to her mom's boyfriend, who police say had been out looking for the child.

Two months later, 23-month-old Paisley Hudson was dead. The mother's boyfriend, Ryan Ramirez, now faces charges for murder and reckless supervision by a childcare provider.

The Indiana Department of Child Services was not contacted that night about the incident.