A Wayne County man has been arrested and charged with murder following the death of a four-month-old infant in April, authorities said on Monday. Demarjai Za'Quan Stukes, 21, from Mount Olive, is facing an open count of murder for his alleged role in the tragedy that unfolded earlier this year.
Emergency personnel were initially dispatched on April 2 to the Medic 9 station in Mount Olive after receiving reports of an unresponsive infant, WRAL reported. The child was transported to ECU Health Greenville and, after two days of urgent care, was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was conducted, which led investigators to review a previous medical call regarding the child on March 21. This examination of the infant's medical history and the circumstances surrounding the incident ultimately pointed authorities to Stukes. Based on information they learned from medical examiner’s office and their investigation, the 21-year-old was taken into custody, according to CBS 17.
Stukes, who resided on the 100 block of Ranch Drive in Mount Olive, is currently being held at the Wayne County Detention Center with no bond. The decision to charge him appears to have come after to carefully assess the findings of the investigation. The Mount Olive Police Department, along with multiple emergency service crews, had responded to the scene back in April, according to ABC 11.
Details regarding the circumstances of the infant's death have not been widely disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing. As the case unfolds, updates are expected to provide clarity on the events leading to the four-month-old's untimely death, and ultimately, the court's determination of responsibility.
