Bear – The Delaware State Police have charged 19 year old, Dejoynay M. Ferguson of New Castle, with Murder 1^st Degree, in connection with the death of a 4 month old infant who was under her care at a Bear daycare facility.

On Thursday, September 5, 2019 at approximately 10:35 a.m., Troopers along with Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the Little People Child Development Center, located at 3843 Wrangle Hill Rd., in reference to an unresponsive 4 month old. The female infant was subsequently transported to the Christiana Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The investigation, being conducted by the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit, has determined that Ferguson, who was the assigned caregiver for the female victim in the Infant Room at the facility, placed her hands over the victim’s mouth and nose and intentionally restricted her breathing until she became unresponsive. Once becoming unresponsive the victim was placed back into a crib by Ferguson. After approximately 20 minutes Ferguson advised the owner of the facility that the victim was unresponsive at which time a call was made to 911.

Ferguson was charged with one count of Murder 1^st Degree and arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court #11 before being committed to the Dolores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $1,000,000.00 cash bail.

As a result of the incident and ongoing investigation the Office of Childcare Licensing has suspended the license of the facility indefinitely.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1800 842-8461).  You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us. 

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released:090619 0845

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