TEXARKANA, Ark. A Texarkana woman has been charged with capital murder after an 8-month-old infant she was babysitting died from injuries suffered while in her care, according to the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department.
Officers responded at approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 29 to the 3600 block of Old Blackman Ferry Road after receiving a request to assist LifeNet personnel with an infant in need of emergency medical care.
When officers arrived, they found first responders treating the unresponsive 8-month-old child, who had sustained life-threatening injuries while being cared for by Cherish Starks, police said.
The infant was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock for advanced treatment.
Later that day, detectives with the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department Criminal Investigation Division interviewed Starks. Based on the investigation, she was arrested and charged with first-degree battery before being booked into the Miller County Detention Center.
On July 1, while Starks remained in custody, investigators were notified that the infant had died from the injuries.
Following the child's death, prosecutors upgraded the charge against Starks to capital murder under Arkansas law.
The investigation remains ongoing.
