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Soldier, Wife Charged In Death Of 2-Year-Old

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has arrested a Ft. Bragg soldier and his wife, charging them with felony child abuse and first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

The mother, 26-year-old Karla Maria Carlson, was taken into custody Friday night. Her husband, 34-year-old Daniel Carlson, had been arrested earlier in the day.

Daniel Carlson is a 16-year Army veteran. He serves as a CW-2 in the 7th Special Force Group.

Investigators say that, shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday, Daniel Carlson called 911 to report that his 23-month-old daughter needed medical assistance. The child, Andrea Sophia Chavarria, was transported to Cape Fear Medical Center.

A preliminary medical examination determined that the child had a number of serious blunt force trauma injuries to various locations of her body. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office was notified and an investigation begun.

The child died at 3:20 a.m. Friday. An autopsy was conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill, where it was determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Both suspects are being held in the Cumberland County Detention Facility under no bond. They will have a first appearance Monday morning in District Court.

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