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'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.

Posted Updated
Synkel Davis mug
By
Aaron Thomas
, WRAL reporter
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — Roanoke Rapids Police arrested a mother charged in the death of a 3-month-old boy Wednesday.

According to police, they responded to a call regarding the well-being of a child around 11:30 a.m. at a home on Franklin Street.

Upon arriving at the Franklin Street home, police conducted a search and found the 3-month-old boy dead, wrapped in a blanket and placed in a suitcase, which was inside a closet.

According to police, the boy was left lifeless for more than 12 hours.

Police Chief Bobby Martin is still struggling to make sense of the shocking discovery.

"I am a grandfather. I have a very young granddaughter, and when you respond to something like this, you often question why and how this has happened," Martin said.

According to Roanoke Rapids Police, the cause of death is unknown.

Police charged the mother, Synkel Davis, 34, with felony concealment of death of a child.

"The mother knowingly knew the child to be deceased and [did not] try to call for assistance of the child," Martin said.

According to Martin, police did not charge the mother with murder.

"We are going on what evidence we have at hand," Martin said. "Any evidence that would be recovered on the autopsy of the child would help us make further decisions. Eventually, the other charges could be filed, such as homicide."

Davis was taken to Halifax County Jail and is currently being held under a $15,000 secured bond.

Davis is set to make a court appearance Friday.

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