MANDERSON, Wyoming — A 2-month-old girl is dead, and her grandfather is behind bars after investigators say she spent her final weeks in conditions that shocked even seasoned law enforcement officers.
Travis Study, 57, was arrested following the infant’s death on July 6. Authorities say the baby was found unresponsive in a trailer where temperatures reached 95 degrees, there was no running water, and drugs were present throughout the home.
What investigators found inside the trailer
When agents searched the property, the conditions they encountered were described in court as some of the worst law enforcement had ever seen.
A crib soaked in urine and feces. A five-gallon bucket being used in place of a toilet. Live insects found inside the infant’s diaper. Methamphetamine residue in a glass pipe. More than 20 grams of marijuana recovered on site.
The trailer had no running water and no sewage system.
The baby’s mother, 22-year-old Destynie Study, drove the infant to a nearby hospital after finding her unresponsive that morning. Medical staff noted an overwhelming odor coming from both the mother and the child upon arrival.
Grandfather called it ‘normal grandpa stuff’
Both Travis and Destynie Study told investigators that Travis regularly cared for the infant and her 1-year-old sibling when the mother was not home.
When asked about his role in caring for the children, Travis Study reportedly told authorities the arrangement was just normal grandpa stuff.
He also allegedly threatened that it would be a bad day for anyone who came to his home in connection with the investigation.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Family had been flagged four times before the infant’s death
The Wyoming Department of Family Services and local police had reportedly made contact with the family four times between April and the infant’s death — raising concerns about living conditions, malnutrition, and missed medical appointments.
In June, Travis Study allegedly told caseworkers and officers to leave his property and never return.
Charges and what comes next
Travis Study faces one felony count of endangering a child through methamphetamine exposure, along with multiple misdemeanor charges including reckless endangerment and drug possession. He is currently held on a $75,000 cash-only bond.
Destynie Study faces misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and child endangerment. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecuting attorney has warned that autopsy results could lead to additional charges. Travis Study’s trial is expected within 180 days. Destynie Study’s trial is scheduled for December 8.
The investigation into the infant’s death remains ongoing.
This case raises urgent questions about how child welfare systems identify and protect infants in dangerous situations before it is too late. What do you think needs to change to better protect children in these circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments.