Rebecca Neville, 25, has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, authorities said. She is being held in the Edgecombe County Jail on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Neville initially was charged with death by motor vehicle in connection with the death of Keligah Randolph early Saturday. Randolph was sitting on his front steps when a car drove across the lawn and up the steps, killing him, police said.
Rocky Mount police said they believe Neville wanted to hurt the Randolph family after an argument with the boy's mother, and they have asked Edgecombe County prosecutors to upgrade the charge in the case to first-degree murder. Authorities said there is still a possibility Neville could face additional charges in the case.
Police said Neville drove Keligah Randolph and his three siblings home early Saturday after they had spent Friday night at two Dee's Christian Day Care Centers in Rocky Mount while their mother was at work.
Charles Randolph, the boy's uncle, said someone from the day care tried to drop the children off earlier in the evening but their mother wasn't there to get them. So, the day care employee left the children with Neville, who was at the Randolph house looking for the children's mother, Randolph said.
The children's mother was upset that Neville had the children, and the two women argued about the situation immediately before the boy was run over, police said.
The State Division of Childhood Development, which ranks the two Dee's Christian Day Care centers as four-star facilities out of a possible five stars, is investigating to make sure the day care followed correct procedures.
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