Texarkana Babysitter Charged with Capital Murder in Infant Death

A Texarkana woman is facing a capital murder charge after an 8-month-old infant she was babysitting died from injuries authorities say were sustained while in her care.

According to the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department press release, officers responded around 11:45 AM on June 29 to assist LifeNet crews in the 3600 block of Old Blackman Ferry Road after they received reports of an infant in need of urgent medical attention.

When officers arrived, LifeNet personnel were providing emergency treatment to the unresponsive child. Authorities said the infant allegedly had suffered life-threatening injuries while being cared for by 30-year-old Cherish Starks.

The child was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Children's Hospital in Little Rock for advanced treatment.

Later that day, investigators with the TAPD Criminal Investigation Division interviewed Starks. After that interview, they charged her with First-Degree Battery and she was booked into the Miller County Detention Center.

Get our free mobile app

On July 1, Texarkana investigators were notified that, sadly, the infant died as a result of the injuries. Following the child's death, prosecutors upgraded the charge against Starks to Capital Murder, a Class Y felony under Arkansas law.

Arkansas Law Enforcement Radio Codes and What They Mean

Gallery Credit: Jim Weaver

LOOK: What are the odds that these 50 totally random events will happen to you?

Stacker took the guesswork out of 50 random events to determine just how likely they are to actually happen. They sourced their information from government statistics, scientific articles, and other primary documents. Keep reading to find out why expectant parents shouldn't count on due dates -- and why you should be more worried about dying on your birthday than living to 100 years old.

Gallery Credit: Isabel Sepulveda