Apex police arrest mom in infant's death

They charged Nicole Lynnette Richards, 23, with involuntary manslaughter. According to police, Richards and the baby were visiting at friend at 2326 Reunion Meadows Lane in Apex Sunday night.

Emergency personnel were called to that location on a report of a baby in respiratory arrest, police said. Paramedics transported Autumn to WakeMed, where she died.

“I broke down. I went to the hospital," said Paul Stewart, the father of two of Richards' four children. "It wasn't a pretty sight."

Stewart said Richards told him she found the baby unresponsive in her crib.

“She changed her clothes. She changed her diaper, fed her, burped her, and then laid her down,” Stewart said. “She said she went back in there about five or 10 minutes later, and the baby was blue.”

Police searched the home and interviewed several witnesses before arresting Richards.

“She ain't doing too good. She is just wondering, 'What did I do to my child?'" Stewart said.

The baby's cause of death was not released.

“I’ve never seen her mistreat either one of her children,” Stewart said.

Richards was being held Monday in the Wake County Jail under a $250,000 bond.