Marshall County Prosecutor declines to file charges in bogus child welfare complaint against Pete Buttigieg

Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman has declined to file criminal charges in connection with a bogus child welfare complaint made in June 2026 against former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

An anonymous caller contacted Michigan child welfare authorities claiming that Buttigieg posed a danger to his four-year-old twins. Michigan State Police and a Child Protective Services worker visited his home as part of standard protocol for handling incoming reports. Buttigieg was temporarily separated from his children for 24 hours while mandatory forensic interviews were conducted.

The call originated from Marshall County, where the instigator — referred to by Chipman as "TJ" — had taken up temporary residency with her own family.

Chipman and his Chief Deputy Nick Lanngowski reviewed the Indiana State Police detective's investigative report. In an email to the detective, Chipman laid out the findings.

"First, the evidence established that TJ gave a false report, resulting in Michigan law enforcement initiating a brief but intrusive investigation of an innocent individual and his family," Chipman wrote. "The evidence also establishes the call of the false report originated here in Marshall County, where TJ had taken up temporary residency with her own family."

Chipman detailed TJ's background in his review. TJ, 50, has a documented history of alcohol abuse and has experienced numerous treatment facilities and programs for alcoholism and other chemical dependency over the years. She also has a long history of mental illness, manifested by hallucinations and delusional thinking, which includes frequently responding to voices only she hears and grandiose ideation, including self-identifying as God. She frequently reports she has enjoyed an evening meal with Barack and Michelle Obama.

TJ is from Alabama. During her relatively short stay in Marshall County, she generated three separate police encounters that resulted in reports, one of which resulted in her arrest for domestic battery. Chipman noted her blood alcohol content in that case was reported at .323. He also noted one of the three reports was based on TJ's claim of being a victim of sexual abuse at the age of 3 by her mother some 47 years prior. Her explanation for such a delayed report was incoherent.

TJ returned to Alabama and took up residence in a treatment facility, only to be soon evicted for a rule violation. She currently resides in a halfway house near her home in Alabama, with very limited mental health treatment options available.

Chipman noted that TJ's abusive and harassing attitude has resulted in somewhat restricting her access to a telephone, but she continues to have access to computers at the facility.

"Obviously she may still have the ability to file additional complaints," Chipman wrote. "No doubt a regrettable situation."

Chipman concluded that TJ was not capable of forming the criminal intent necessary to support a conviction.

"In light of the totality of circumstances, I am unable to conclude that TJ is capable of forming the requisite intent to support a criminal conviction for this offense," Chipman wrote. "Accordingly, this office will not be filing a criminal case in this matter."

Chipman thanked the Indiana State Police for what he described as "a thorough investigation and cogent report."