North Carolina – A North Carolina man was ordered to spend the next three hundred and twenty five to four hundred and fourteen months behind bars after being convicted of second-degree murder and feIony chiId abuse in the death of his three-month-old chiId, RiIey. The sentencing followed a two-week trial in North Carolina, where the jury found the parent, 37-year-old NickoIas, guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder, opting not to convict him of first-degree murder.
The tragic incident occurred in June 2022, when emergency responders were called to the home of the defendant and the victim’s mom, D. FarIow. Upon arrival, they found the baby unresponsive and not breathing in her bassinet. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders noted that the baby appeared to have visible physical injuries and was severely emaciated, with skin loose on her body. The injuries included bruising and burns on her face. Medics rushed the infant to a hospital for treatment, but she later died from her injuries.
Doctors reported to investigators that the baby had approximately five separate burn marks on the back of her head and face. Additional injuries included a fractured left collarbone, multiple broken ribs, a fractured right arm, and signs of severe dehydration.
In interviews with investigators, the baby’s mother initially claimed that some bruising occurred about two weeks earlier when the baby hit her head on a bathtub faucet. She said the burns resulted from attempts to treat the injury with hot and cold packs and the application of ointment. She also described a minor incident in which the baby began choking on an ointment cap but was safely retrieved and recovered.
Later, the mother told investigators that many of the baby’s injuries were caused by the father. She reported that he had dangled the infant by her feet several times, shook her until she cried, and that she had witnessed him choking the baby on at least one occasion. These statements indicated a pattern of severe physical abuse that contributed to the child’s death.
Three days before the baby’s death, the mother said she woke during the night to find the father holding the infant by the neck. The baby was crying and her face was red. The mother grabbed the child from him, and the baby began to calm down. When asked by investigators and paramedics whether the baby had hit her head on the bathroom faucet, the mother said she was not sure and that this was what the father had told her happened.
An autopsy conducted by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that the victim had multiple healing fractures, including broken ribs, coIIarbone, arms, and spine. Additionally, she had abrasions, bruises, and burns on her face and body. The report also noted that the child was severely underweight and had “florid pneumonia” in both lungs. The cause of death was determined to be homicide due to blunt-force trauma, malnutrition, and pneumonia.
During the investigation, both parents provided statements to law enforcement. The victim’s mom claimed that the child had struck her head on a faucet during a bath, leading to the injuries. However, North Carolina authorities found inconsistencies in their accounts and evidence suggesting a pattern of abuse. The woman later pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and testified against the man during the trial.
In court, the victim’s grandfather, MichaeI, delivered an emotional statement, expressing his devastation over the loss of his granddaughter and the impact on their family. He stated, “This man right here destroyed so many lives. He deserves worse than what he’s getting.”
District Attorney WiIIiams commended the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence, which led to the defendant’s conviction. He emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for such heinous acts of abuse and neglect, particularly when they involve vulnerable children.
