Charlotte, N.C. – The 31-year-old North Carolina woman, later identified as Vannity, was arrested and later charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in connection with her family member’s death. Authorities discovered that the child, 4, was staying with his father’s sister since last month. The 31-year-old defendant was initially charged with child abuse, but after authorities received a preliminary autopsy from the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office indicating serious bodily injury, they’ve added the murder charge.
The investigation process began on Tuesday last week after the 911 caller told the dispatcher about an unresponsive child. First responders discovered that the child was not responsive and rushed her to the hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead. The medical examiner told investigators that the child, Stormi, suffered a blunt force trauma and her death was classified as a homicide. The 31-year-old woman was booked into jail and is being held without bond on the murder charge, court records say.
The child was staying with her father’s sister since last month and had been in her care at the time of her death. It remains unclear why the child was staying with her family member and the whereabouts of her biological parents. The victim’s family is heartbroken and launched an online fundraiser to raise money for funeral expenses. During an interview with local news outlets, the victim’s grandparent, Tia, shared more details in connection with her grandchild’s untimely death. The woman reportedly told WSOCTV that she is heartbroken that she won’t be able to see her grandchild grow up.
The crying woman told local news outlets that she is trying to understand how her daughter could have allegedly taken her grandchild’s life. The woman also added that ‘the excuse her daughter gave to authorities didn’t add up.’ According to the grandparent, her daughter reportedly told investigators that her niece was running and hit her head on the table. “Even if you didn’t do it or cause it or whatever the case may be, you’re going to call the police. You have a car; you’re going to take her to the hospital. You went upstairs and laid down like you didn’t care. So that makes me feel like you never cared about her. Whatever they want to do to her, I pray they do it because her life was taken. So why should you be out here doing whatever?” the grandparent reportedly told local news outlets.