2-Year-Old Girl Dies from Suffocation in Ohio Apartment; Mother and Boyfriend Arrested on Child Endangerment Charges
Adams County, Ohio — July 3, 2025
In a case that has shocked the local community and raised pressing concerns about child welfare, authorities in Adams County have arrested two individuals following the death of a 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive at an apartment complex earlier this week.
According to a press release from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the Timber Ridge Apartment Complex, located just north of Cincinnati, on Tuesday, July 1, after receiving a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child. First responders arrived to find the toddler not breathing, and despite immediate efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child’s body was transported to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, where an autopsy was conducted. The official cause of death was determined to be suffocation, according to multiple local news outlets including WKRC-TV and WLWT-TV.
Two individuals were taken into custody in connection with the incident. Authorities identified them as Tiens Hawkins, 25, and Brian Moser, 23, who also goes by the name Terry Smith III. Both are believed to be connected to the victim — Hawkins is reportedly the child’s mother, and Moser her live-in boyfriend. They are currently being held on child endangerment charges, with officials stating that further charges may be filed pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation began after Moser placed a 911 call early Tuesday morning. In a frantic and emotional call, Moser reportedly told emergency dispatchers, “I believe she’s all the way gone. I don’t know if they suffocated her last night or what’s going on. There’s no way. I don’t know. She’s dead. We woke up and found her.”
Investigators are now working to determine the timeline and circumstances leading up to the child’s death, including whether there were previous signs of abuse or neglect in the home. The Adams County Prosecutor’s Office and Montgomery County Coroner’s Office have not yet issued public statements beyond confirming the autopsy results.
Neighbors at Timber Ridge Apartments expressed heartbreak and disbelief over the incident. One resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “It’s devastating. I saw that little girl outside a few times — she was so small and full of life. I never imagined something like this would happen here.”
The case has reignited public debate around Ohio’s child protective services system and whether more can be done to identify at-risk children before tragedy strikes. Officials have not confirmed whether any previous reports had been filed concerning the child’s safety or living conditions.
Both Hawkins and Moser remain in custody as of Thursday evening. It is unclear if either has retained legal counsel. Bond hearings are expected to be scheduled in the coming days.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has asked anyone with information about the case or the individuals involved to come forward and contact their tip line.