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Investigators Treating Infant's Death as Homicide

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Home where infant was found dead.
RALEIGH — A 4-month old infant died at an in-home day care center Wednesday from what authorities say was a headinjury. Tracy Stidham was running the center, but police say she wasn'tthere at the time of death. Now police say the woman may be charged withseveral violations.

A police search of the Stidham home turned up a small amount ofmarijuana and some drug paraphernalia. Police say they want to search thehome again Friday, but wouldn't say what they are looking for.

Mark Stidham is defending his wife and his 12-year-old daughter sayingthey had nothing to do with the death of 4-month-old Bailey Tippett.Police are saying little about what they have determined to date, exceptthat the investigation is at a sensitive stage.

The district attorney working on the case says she is in the sameposition.

By Friday morning, the Stidhams had retained the services of anattorney and were less willing to talk than they had been earlier.

Tracy Stidham had left seven children, including three of her own,alone in the house Wednesday when the baby was found dead.

Photographer:Mark Copeland

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