Billy Bob Thornton's Ex Defends Daughter

5 months ago 02nd Jun 15:00

Billy Bob Thornton's ex-wife has defended the couple's babysitter daughter against allegations of child neglect after an infant died in her care.

Amanda Brumfield - Thornton's estranged 29-year-old daughter by his first spouse Melissa Gatlin - has been charged following an incident last October (08), when a one year old baby fell from a playpen and hit her head.

Brumfield, who was arrested on Friday (29May09), didn't call for an ambulance for over two hours - but Gatlin insists her daughter felt there was "no reason" to get help because the tot showed "no signs of distress".

She alleges Brumfield fell asleep with the tot - and it was only later, when she awoke to find the baby's still body, that she noticed something was terribly wrong.

Gatlin tells TMZ.com, "When you have a situation that does not indicate distress... there are no signs of distress, then there is no reason to immediately call police."

Police have ruled the tragic death a homicide after autopsy results showed the baby died from a fractured skull and a subdural hematoma due to blunt trauma.