Baby Angel dies, tornado survivor taken off life support

(WXYZ) - A baby girl who survived the wrath of a tornado that destroyed her home and killed her family was taken off life support on Sunday. Little Angel's brain was swelling and there was nothing else doctors could do.

Earlier in the day there was some hope when the toddler opened her eyes. But optimism faded as the hours passed and it became clear the 14-month old was slipping away.

Angel was with her mom, dad, brother and sister, when a tornado violently threw them from their modular home Friday in New Pekin, Indiana. 21-year-old Joseph Babcock, 20-year-old  Moriah Brough and two of their three children were found near Angel in a field of debris. Jaydon Babcock was only two years old and Kendall Babcock was born just two months ago.

Friends of the couple, who live in metro Detroit, could not believe the news.

“I don’t even want to believe it,” said best friend Justin Henley. Henley said that Joseph was like a brother to him. “He loved everybody. He never talked bad about anybody. He’s just a good person and he loved his kids a lot,” said Henley.

Henley now lives in Oakland County, but grew up in Kentucky where he met Joseph. They had been friends for almost 17 years. Henley recently moved to Michigan and Joseph moved to Indiana.

“Kendall was a month and a half old. She was found in her car seat upside down. Jayden was 2-years-old and he was found under the rubble,” said Sherry Young.  Young is Justin’s mother and had also known Joseph. 

“Joseph was found on the opposite side of the road from his house. Moriah was found underneath a tree,” said Young. “Angel was found out in the middle of the field all alone. She’s 20-months-old,” said Young.

Young said the family did not have any insurance, so a fund has been set up for them at Bank of America called, The Babcock Family Fund. The money will be used to pay for funeral expenses.