Man indicted nearly three years after toddler’s death

JACKSON, Tenn. — A man is behind bars after an investigation into a toddler’s death.

April will mark three years since the death of 2-year-old Rowdy Maness. Rowdy’s father, Jeff Maness, says he finally has closure.

“I got a phone call last night. They told me they made an arrest and justice was going to be done, and it’s been a long time — a long time waiting for this to happen,” Maness said.

Rowdy Maness died April 21, 2016. His death was initially attributed to an aneurysm caused by an accidental fall. An autopsy report later determined his death was a homicide.

Madison County Sheriff John Mehr confirmed that on Monday the Madison County grand jury indicted Kevin Tyler Gage on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse and neglect.

Kevin Tyler Gage

Maness says Gage was in a relationship with the child’s mother. Maness says he has a message for other parents.

“Pay attention to the telltale signs of a happy kid and a not happy kid,” Maness said. “If we all could have acted sooner, we could have caught this, but who would want to think that that was really going on.”

According to Sheriff Mehr, the case is now in the hands of the district attorney’s office.