Ariana Smyth, days away from her 2nd birthday, died from severe brain and internal injuries.
CAMDEN -- A Superior Court grand jury has indicted a mother and her boyfriend in the death of Ariana Smyth, who was not yet 2 years old when she died in July.
Police arrested both Michael Disporto, 22, of Manahawkin, and Amber Bobo, 26, of Gloucester City, after Bobo's daughter died July 5 from severe internal injuries -- allegedly inflicted during a sexual assault by Disporto -- and brain trauma.
While the two are being held on bail -- $1.5 million for Disporto and $100,000 for Bobo -- Camden County prosecutors have been presenting evidence about the case to a grand jury.
The prosecutor's office announced Tuesday that the grand jury returned indictments against the couple on Oct. 6.
Disporto was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder and first-degree aggravated sexual assault.
Bobo was indicted on one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
At Disporto's arraignment in July, Camden County Assistant Prosector Christine Shah laid out the horrific details of what investigators believe happened to Ariana Smyth in her last days.
Bobo allegedly told authorities that she had been dating Disporto for about two weeks before they picked up Ariana from her father's house in Cape May County July 2 and took her back to Bobo's home on South King Street in Gloucester City.
Vigil held for slain toddler on her 2nd birthday
That day and overnight, Disporto was alone with Ariana several times, Bobo told authorities, including taking her to the park alone to "get to know her better."
Bobo found her daughter alone with Disporto on the couch and, upon unwrapping a blanket around the girl, found bruising on her forehead. Disporto denied knowing how she got hurt and refuse to let Bobo take her to the hospital, Shah said.
The next morning, Bobo told investigators, she found bruising on her daughter's genitals. Again Disporto insisted they not take the girl to the hospital, Shah said.
Instead, they went shopping at the Deptford Mall, returning home to change her clothes because she had started to vomit, and then going back to the mall.
When her eyes started to roll back in her head, Bobo called for an ambulance, while Disporto again tried to talk her out of seeking medical attention. Ariana was unresponsive when EMTs arrived. After doctors at Cooper University Hospital could not detect any brain surgery, she was taken off life support, Shah said.
A petition started after the arrests of Disporto and Bobo calls for Bobo to be charged with murder, as well as endangering her child. It has over 4,700 signatures.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.