Two charged with murder after disappearance of North Carolina child

Published 10:07 am Sunday, April 4, 2021

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Two people initially charged with concealing the death of a 6-month-old girl have now been charged with murder, although the child’s remains haven’t been located, according to a North Carolina police department.

Greensboro police spokesman Ron Glenn said in a news release late Thursday that officers arrested and charged Denishia Lerhae Murray, 22, and Jalen Maurice Wall, 23, each with first-degree murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. Information received during the investigation led detectives to believe the child was dead, although Glenn didn’t say what that information was.

Police began an investigation last week into the disappearance of 6-month-old Nevaeh Smith, Glenn said. Murray, identified by police as the girl’s mother, and Wall were arrested last week and each charged with concealing or failing to report the death of a child.

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At the time of the initial arrest, Murray posted a $10,000 bond and was released from the Guilford County jail. Wall was jailed on a $500,000 bond and remains in custody, according to a news release.

Nevaeh was last seen in December, according to the news release. The child has not been found.

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