In the Infant’s Death, the mother and Her Boyfriend Have Been Charged

A man has been charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse, and his girlfriend, the child’s mother, has also been charged with felony child abuse, in connection with the death of a 1-year-old infant who was discovered unresponsive in a bathtub at a residence in the Little Raleigh area on Sunday morning, according to police.

Marcus Richardson, 30, was jailed without bond in the Nash County Detention Center and Sierra Eley, 27, was jailed under a $250,000 secured bond in the detention center, police spokesman Cpl. Ricky Jackson said Sunday night in a news release.

Sierra Eley, 27, was charged with felony child abuse in the death of Romie Tyler III, her 1-year-old son. Marcus Robinson, 30, Eley’s boyfriend, was charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse, authorities said Sunday night.

Richardson was being jailed without bond at the Nash County Detention Center. Eley was being held on a secured bail of $250,000 at the time. Their first appearance in court was scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. at the Nash County Courthouse.

On Sunday, at about 9 a.m., police responded to a call in the 600 block of Paul Street. The call was made in relation to a 1-year-old who was unresponsive in the bathtub, according to officials. The baby was rushed to Nash UNC Health in Rocky Mount, where he was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. The incident is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division, according to police.

Her boyfriend, Robert Eugene McCachren, 28, of Dover Township’s 1500 block of Conewago Road, has been charged with endangering the welfare of children. According to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, state police are looking for information on his whereabouts, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The infant was identified as Aurora Decker by the York County Coroner’s Office, and her causes of death were hypothermia and methamphetamine intoxication, according to a news release from state police.