North Carolina Parents Charged with Murder in Infant's Death
Three-month-old died from severe malnutrition and dehydration, authorities say.
A North Carolina couple faces first-degree murder charges after their three-month-old daughter died from severe malnutrition and dehydration. Kendal Lee Hayes and Glenn John Delgreco II were arrested following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, which determined the infant had lost approximately one-third of her body weight since birth.
The indictment indicates that the alleged neglect began just six days after the baby was born. Authorities stated that the infant had not received necessary medical treatment despite significant signs of distress.
Deputies were called to the family's home on May 13, the date of the infant's death, after CPR was administered. The baby was transported to Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as severe protein-calorie malnutrition, with the death officially ruled a homicide.
The baby's grandparents, Alice Loraine Evans and Thomas Virgil Evans, have also been charged with felony child abuse. Police noted that both couples resided in the same home and shared responsibility for the infant's care.
Happens and Delgreco were initially charged with felony child abuse and aiding and abetting in June. These charges were later upgraded to murder. Evidence and autopsy findings were presented to the Iredell County Grand Jury, which issued the indictments. The couple was served with the indictments at the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were denied bond. They are scheduled for arraignment on September 21.