Billy Bob's Daughter Arrested in Babysitting Related Death

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Billy Bob's Daughter Arrested in Babysitting Related Death

Sun., May. 31, 2009 6:00 PM PDT by Megan Masters

Ocoee Police Department, Alan Davidson/Getty Images

Amanda Brumfield, the estranged daughter of actor Billy Bob Thornton, was arrested in Florida on Friday stemming from the death of a child under her care back in October.

According the Orlando Sentinal, Brumfield has been charged with child neglect nearly seven months after telling investigators that "the child had fallen and hit her head." Since the incident, police have revealed that "she did not call for help for another two and a half hours."

Thornton's publicist, Arnold Robinson, released a statement on behalf of the actor, who has "had no contact with [Brumfield] for quite some time." Said Robinson, ""When informed about this situation, [Thornton] commented that, 'Anytime a baby's life is lost is an unimaginable tragedy and my heart goes out to the baby's family and loved ones.'"

Investigators discovered inconsistencies in Brumfield's story, including her version of events which placed the infant straddling her playpen and falling as the result of being startled by the sitter.

Florida's Ocoee Police spokesman James Berish says, "It's not believable that a one year old can balance themselves on a railing. We do believe her head hit a hard object." However, the 28-inch fall to the floor below could not be ruled as responsible for killing the child. ""You would either have to fall harder or hit something with more force."

While the death has been ruled a homicide, authorities are more focused on the child neglect charges against Brumfield. "It might have been an accident, but she had an obligation to get that child care. For two and a half hours she did not care for that child."