A Texarkana babysitter now faces a capital murder charge. Police say an 8 month old boy died from injuries he got while she watched him.
Texarkana Arkansas Police got a call for help on June 29. It came in about 11:45 a.m. The call came from a home in the 3600 block of Old Blackman Ferry Road.
This case matters because it shows how fast a child's life can change in someone else's care. Parents across the Texarkana area trust babysitters with their kids every day. A case like this makes many families ask hard questions about who watches their children.
LifeNet paramedics got to the home first. They found the baby boy not responding. They started treating him right away.
Police say the boy got hurt while he was with his babysitter, Cherish Starks. Crews rushed the baby to a local hospital. Doctors later sent him to a children's hospital in Little Rock for more care.
TAPD detectives talked to Starks the same day, June 29. At first, they charged her with first degree battery. That charge alone can mean years in prison. Officers booked her into the Miller County Detention Center.
The baby stayed in the hospital for two more days. On July 1, investigators learned the boy had died from his injuries.
Once the baby died, police upgraded the charge against Starks. She now faces capital murder. That is the most serious murder charge a person can face. In many states, it can mean life in prison or even the death penalty.
Texarkana sits right on the border of Texas and Arkansas. Two cities share the name, one on each side of the state line. This case happened on the Arkansas side. That is why Texarkana Arkansas Police and the Miller County jail are handling it, not a Texas department.
Right now, Starks remains held on the capital murder charge. Police have not released more details about what happened inside the home on Old Blackman Ferry Road. It is not yet clear how Starks has responded to the charge in court.
The case is still open. Texarkana Arkansas Police have not said when the case will go before a judge. Neighbors near Old Blackman Ferry Road say the news of a baby's death so close to home has shaken them.
This is a developing story. Facts here come from one published report. El Tejano will update this story if police or the court release new information.
