Portage Woman Charged After 5-Year-Old Found Alone At Park For Hours
A Portage woman, identified as Kelsey Nicole Rhinefield, has been charged in Porter County after police say her 5-year-old autistic, non-verbal son was found alone, wearing only a shirt and underwear, wandering a park for hours with no parent or guardian located.
Portage officers were dispatched around 1:50 p.m. on November 15, 2025, to Countryside Park for a report of an unattended child. The boy—estimated to be around five years old—was non-verbal and wearing only a shirt and underwear, with no shoes. Officers searched the park and surrounding area but could not locate a parent or guardian. A post was made on the Portage Police Department Facebook page asking for any information on the child. The child was taken into protective custody and transferred to CPS.
Approximately 3.5 hours later, Porter County dispatch received a call from a family member reporting that her grandson was missing and was last supposed to be with his mother, Kelsey Rhinefield, at a residence in the 3200 block of Brown Street. According to the affidavit, Kelsey denied having the child. It was then confirmed that the child found at the park was the missing juvenile.
The caller told investigators she believed Kelsey was “acting strange” and “not sounding like herself.” She said she became concerned when she noticed the unusually quiet background, as she normally hears the child when they speak. When confronted, Kelsey allegedly said she had dropped the child off at his father’s house despite having no vehicle. When the caller confirmed that the father did not have the child, she went to Kelsey’s home and contacted police.
A man living in the home told investigators he had left for work around 1:15 p.m., with both Kelsey and the child present. He reported recent concerning behavior from Kelsey, including “laughing hysterically at nothing,” talking to herself, and a prior incident where she was taken for a mental-health commitment after being found outside naked. He also confirmed Kelsey had no access to a functioning vehicle that day.
When investigators spoke with Kelsey and read her Miranda warnings, she requested an attorney. She was informed she would be arrested for neglect. According to the affidavit, she repeatedly stated she was madly in love and did not ask about her son’s condition.
Charge filed November 17,2025:
• Neglect of a Dependent – Level 6 Felony
