Child death Coverage

Durham murder suspect's stepsister believes he is innocent

Jorge Raul Benitez-Mendoza, the 18-year-old charged in a shooting that killed two 16-year-old students injured another, appeared before a judge on Thursday. Benitez-Mendoza has no prior criminal history.

Judge says no death penalty for mom in triple murder case

A woman charged with conspiracy and murder in connection with the deaths of her two children and her new husband's late wife will no longer face the death penalty, a judge ruled Tuesday.

'At least they are being given an option': Nash County commissioner calls for resignation of Nash DSS leadership after scathing report

Nash County leaders are responding to a critical state report into the Nash County Department of Social Services.

Lena Tillett, WRAL anchor/reporter, and Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist

Nash County leaders meet after explosive state report comes out

"This is a stain on Nash County," said commissioner Glen Wilkins, who confirmed that a fired Nash DSS employee was involved in handling Christal Lane's case.

Goldsboro police investigating death of a 7-month-old

Police officers were called to UNC Health Wayne, where they spoke with medical staff about the dead child.

Nash County DSS worker terminated after investigation into 8-year-old girl's death

The Nash County Department of Social Services is required to develop and complete a corrective action plan after 8-year-old Christal Lane died on Feb. 7.

Nash County Social Services employee terminated after state finds child welfare violations before 8-year-old girl's beating death

The Nash County Department of Social Services is required to develop and complete a corrective action plan after 8-year-old Christal Lane died in February.

Lena Tillett, WRAL anchor/reporter; Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Nash County Social Services employee terminated after state finds child welfare violations before 8-year-old girl's beating death

The Nash County Department of Social Services is required to develop and complete a corrective action plan after 8-year-old Christal Lane died in February. The state found policy violations with the county's child welfare practice in the months before the girl's death.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

15-year-old shot in front of Rocky Mount home

A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed Monday night in Rocky Mount.

Pot, stolen guns found in home near where 15-year-old was found shot

A 15-year-old was shot and killed Monday night in Rocky Mount.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Court documents outline death of child, abuse of another at hands of father

Umoja Bryant, 32, was charged with the first-degree murder of a 4-year-old girl and child abuse of a 5-year-old boy. WRAL News learned Monday after his court appearance that he was the father of the children, and was scheduled for a court appearance later this month on another charge.

Goldsboro man appears in court after death of daughter, abuse of son

Umoja Bryant was charged March 3 with first-degree-murder of his 4-year-old daughter and child abuse 5-year-old son. Bryant made his first court appearance Monday, but WRAL News has learned he was scheduled to appear in court on an unrelated charge later this month.

Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist

Man arrested in connection with 4-year-old's death and 5-year-old's injury

Umoja Jihad Bryant is charged with first-degree murder and child abuse.

Goldsboro man charged with murder, child abuse after 4-year-old girl dies, 5-year-old injured

Goldsboro police arrested Umoja Jihad Bryant on charges of child abuse and murder Friday morning after a 4-year-old girl died in the emergency room of UNC Health Wayne hospital.

WRAL Staff

Funeral for 8-year-old killed in Nash County after grandmother charged with her death

A Nash County 8-year-old killed last month will be laid to rest on Friday. Her grandmother has been charged in her death.

Child gun deaths rising faster in NC than in other parts of the US, report finds

On Monday, the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force released its annual report. Homicides and suicides increased sharply compared to the year before, the report found.

Children in NC are 51% more likely to die from gun violence than national average, report finds

On Monday, the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force released its annual report. Homicides and suicides increased sharply compared to the year before, the report found.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

12-year-old boy dies at football practice

A 12 year-old boy collapsed and died at football practice in New Jersey. The coach was running an errand at the time and according to witnesses, it took more than 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

Why was 8-year-old girl not removed from reportedly abuse home ahead of death?

WRAL News has learned that the state will not investigate how the Nash County Department of Social Services handled the abuse case of Christal Lane, an eight-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her grandmother.

School alerted Nash County to girl's beating before Christmas, but county failed to remove her from home where she died

WRAL News has learned that the state will not investigate how the Nash County Department of Social Services handled the abuse case of Christal Lane, an eight-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her grandmother.

Keenan Willard, WRAL Eastern NC reporter

4-year-old boy found dead in Rocky Mount

The boy was found unresponsive on Thursday and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Leslie Moreno and Adam Owens, WRAL reporters

WRAL Investigation finds grandmother accused of murdering granddaughter was reported for child abuse months earlier

A WRAL investigation has now found that social services was called to the girl's elementary school back in December, after staff reported the girl had been brutally beaten. WRAL News is now pressing the county to explain why the girl wasn't taken from her grandmother at the first sign of abuse.

Keenan Willard, WRAL Eastern NC reporter

'You question why and how this has happened,' Roanoke Rapids mother charged after infant found dead in suitcase

Officers conducted a search at the Franklin Street home Wednesday morning after receiving a call regarding a child's well-being, where they found the body of a 3-month-old dead and stuffed in a suitcase.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

14-year-old boy dies after riding bull at Stokes County rodeo

A boy died after riding a bull at a rodeo at American Legion Post 290 on South Main Street in King Saturday night.

Fisher-Price recalls Rock 'n Play Sleepers again after 8 more deaths

Fisher-Price for a second time recalled its Rock 'n Play Sleepers on Monday after at least eight infant deaths occurred after the initial 2019 recall, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

By Rob McLean, CNN