A 19-year-old Morganton woman is behind bars on a second-degree murder charge in the death of a 14-month-old boy found unresponsive at a Morganton address last November, county officials said. The Sunday arrest is the second to come out of an approximately six-month investigation into the toddler’s death. Authorities say she was taken before a Burke County magistrate and is being held without bond.
In a news release, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Gracie Kay Cook, born Sept. 29, 2006. Investigators said Cook was located on May 31 with help from the Hickory Police Department and served with a warrant charging her with second-degree murder. The release notes that warrants were also issued for 29-year-old Samuel James Hensley during the course of the investigation. Cook’s first court appearance was set for June 1, and the county reports she was given no bond. The sheriff’s office said further details could be released later as the case allows.
Investigation Timeline And Prior Arrest
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were first called on Nov. 7, 2025, to a reported cardiac arrest at 2509 NC 18-US 64, Lot 26, in Morganton. They found the 14-month-old boy dead at the scene, and the Criminal Investigations Division opened what turned into a months-long probe. After that investigation, deputies secured warrants for second-degree murder, and Hensley was arrested on May 21 and taken to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office, where he was served with the warrant, according to an earlier release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
Local coverage has tracked the case as it unfolded. WSOC-TV reported on Hensley’s May 21 arrest and later on Cook’s arrest as investigators closed in on their second suspect.
What The Second-Degree Murder Charge Means
Under North Carolina law, second-degree murder applies to killings that do not meet the state’s more limited criteria for first-degree murder and can bring a wide range of possible prison terms, depending on the facts of the case and a defendant’s prior record. The North Carolina General Assembly sets out the degrees of murder and the framework for sentencing in state statute. These remain allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office says it is working closely with the District Attorney’s Office and that more information could be released when appropriate. The county also posted its announcement on its official page on Facebook.
