LYNCHBURG, Va. (TCN) — A 23-year-old mother faces a charge of homicide in connection with the death of her child, who was found dead in March with signs of malnutrition and open sores.
According to the Lynchburg Police Department, on March 26, at approximately 4:32 p.m., officers and the Lynchburg Fire Department responded to a report of an unresponsive infant on Leesville Road. Responders attempted lifesaving measures, but the baby was transported to a hospital and pronounced deceased.
Warrants reviewed by WSET-TV allege that the 5-month-old boy was “in an obvious state of malnutrition,” and he had “several open sores to the extent portions of his skin was peeling away.”
Police announced on April 3 that they arrested the victim’s mother, Endia Walker, on initial charges of felony child neglect and felony child neglect resulting in serious injury.
Walker reportedly admitted that she left her infant and other children unsupervised for “extensive periods of time.” In March, WSET reports that Walker was arrested for a DUI, and her children were allegedly found wandering around their apartment complex without supervision.
Police said in an update on May 5 that Walker now faces a new charge of felony homicide.