Baby Found in Field Among Dead Family Members Dies in Hospital
The total death toll across 12 states is at least 37.
March 4, 2012 — -- The toddler found among the bodies of her family members in a field outside a home in New Pekin, Ind., that was flattened by a powerful tornado, died today of traumatic brain injuries.
Twenty-month-old Angel Babcock was taken to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, where she was placed on life support.
Angel's grandparents and doctors took her off life support because of the severity of her brain injuries, and she died at 4:10 p.m. today, according to the coroner.
"Angel has been reunited with her parents," her grandfather, Jack Brough, said in a statement read by hospital staff. "We want to thank God for all of you and for your thoughts and prayers. God will bring you and all of us out of this. That is what it will take. All should look to God. The family would also like to thank all the wonderful staff and doctors at Kosair Children's Hospital who have taken such kind care of Angel."
Washington County Sheriff Claude Combs told ABC News that Angel was discovered near the bodies of her 20-year-old mother Moriah Brough and two younger siblings, Jaydon and Kendall, ages 2 years and 2 months old.
The body of her 21-year-old father, Joseph Babcock, was also recovered from the field following Friday's twisters.
"I don't even want to believe it," Joseph Babcock's best friend Justin Henley told ABC News affiliate WXYZ. "[Babcock] loved everybody. He never talked bad about anybody. He's just a good person and he loved his kids a lot."
"Kendall…was found in her car seat upside down. Jayden…was found under the rubble," Sherry Young, Henley's mother told WXYZ. "Joseph was found on the opposite side of the road from his house. Moriah was found underneath a tree. Angel was found out in the middle of the field all alone."
The death of Angel brings the death toll to 39 across five states that were hit by tornados late last week. A state of emergency was in effect in western Kentucky, where 20 people were killed by the dozens of tornados that ravaged the area Friday, leaving many cities looking like warzones.
The tornados hit 19 counties and left at least 300 people injured in Kentucky.
Gilber Acciardo with the Laurel County Sheriff's Department in Kentucky said many of the injuries are serious.
"Lost legs, amputations for sure, a lot of serious broken bones, a lot of severe injuries, head injuries," said Acciardo.
Click here to see photos of the destruction.
The town of West Liberty, Ky., was completely flattened by the twister. Dozens were reported missing overnight and at least two people were killed.
Hundreds are now sleeping on the floor of the city's elementary school, which has been turned into a Red Cross shelter. With only ravaged homes to return to, these people could be sleeping at the school for weeks.
"The only thing I could think to pray was 'In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost,'" resident Martha Jo Hall told the Herald-Leader. "And He took care of us."
To find out how to help the survivors of the devastating tornados, click here.
Officials are going door to door in many communities, looking for survivors.
West Liberty resident Robin Williams is worried about a friend.
"I have a friend that I'm concerned about. I haven't heard from her or her daughter, and nobody can tell me nothing," said Williams.
ABC News' Alyssa Newcomb, Adam Sechrist and Keturah Gray contributed to this report.
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