Tien Hawkins (left) appeared in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas on Friday, July 11, with her defense attorney Amanda Burgess to face eight fellony charges, including murder, in the death of her two-year old daughter. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Tien Lynn Hawkins has been indicted on eight felony charges connected to the death of her two-year-old daughter and the severe injuries of two other children. The Adams County Grand Jury returned the indictment alleging that between April 1 and July 2, 2025, Hawkins permitted repeated abuse that resulted in her child’s death and caused substantial harm to additional minors in the household.
The charges include murder, involuntary manslaughter, three counts of permitting child abuse, and three counts of endangering children. According to the indictment, Hawkins allowed the children to be subjected to excessive discipline, or cruel restraint, and neglect. The murder charge alleges the death was the proximate result of Hawkins permitting the abuse, a first-degree felony. The involuntary manslaughter charge alleges that the death arose from the offense of endangering children.
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