Raleigh man charged in infant's death

Police responded to an emergency call about an unresponsive infant shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday at 1223-306 Silver Sage Drive, an apartment complex off Jones Franklin Road.

Paramedics transported the infant to WakeMed, where she was pronounced dead. ‬‪ ‬‪

Joshua Andrew Stepp, 26, was charged Monday. Police said Stepp knew the victim but did not elaborate on their relationship.

Stepp was in the Wake County Jail Monday night on a $500,000 secured bond for the first-degree sex offense charge in the case. The murder charge carries no bond.

He is set to appear in court Tuesday.

“He (Stepp) was always to himself, and he never actually talked to me. Nor did I ever want to talk to him, because he just had that kind of demeanor to him. He just didn't want to talk,” said Brian Smith, who lives in the same complex as Stepp.

Smith said he witnessed paramedics entering the apartment Sunday night.

“About a minute or two after, they rushed out with the baby that was in the paramedic's hand. And you could tell the baby was lifeless, just like a rag doll,” Smith said.

“It is disgusting. It is sad. It is really sad,” Tigh Roberts, another neighbor, said of the crime.