Dad, step arrested in connection with 5-year-old daughter's death (Bossier Parish, Louisiana)

Dad WESLEY LOWE and the step have been charged with negligent homicide in the death of his 5-year-old daughter. The girl died from internal injuries and bleeding, and had bruising and other signs of trauma all over her body. I suspect this is a custodial father, though the article doesn't make his custodial status clear. Is this girl's mother dead? Alive but non-custodial? What?

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20110114/NEWS03/110114012/Authorities-ID-parents-arrested-in-connection-with-5-year-old-s-death

Authorities ID parents arrested in connection with 5-year-old's death
From Staff Reports • January 14, 2011

Two people face charges in connection with Thursday’s death of a Bossier Parish 5-year-old.

The child's father, Wesley Lowe, 32, and step-mother Catherine Lowe, 34, are charged with negligent homicide and were taken into custody at 2 a.m. today.

Sheriff's deputies also revealed the child died from internal injuries and internal bleeding. She was dead for two hours before her father and step-mother brought her to a local hospital on Thursday morning.

She also had bruising and trauma over her entire body, authorities said.

The father and step-mother also face charges connected with the possession of oxycodone and darvacet.