Deputies said the 10-month-old boy was found injured Thursday afternoon at a Buncombe County home.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina woman has been charged with murder after deputies said a 10-month-old boy with multiple stab wounds was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead Thursday.
Authorities identified the woman as Ciara Frederick. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said Frederick was taken into custody after deputies and medical personnel were called to Rocala Drive shortly after 2 p.m. The child, identified as Enoch Chappell, was found hurt at the scene and rushed to Mission Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Investigators said Frederick also faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Officials had not publicly released additional details Thursday night about what led deputies to the home, what happened before emergency crews arrived, or who was allegedly targeted in the assault counts tied to the case.
The child’s death quickly turned the case into a homicide investigation. Authorities said only that the baby had multiple stab wounds. No court hearing details, attorney information or probable cause documents were immediately included in the public account released by deputies.
The case centers on an address on Rocala Drive in Buncombe County, where first responders were dispatched during the afternoon. From there, the infant was taken to Mission Hospital for emergency treatment. Hospital staff later pronounced the child dead, according to the sheriff’s office account carried by local media.
What remains unclear is the timeline inside the home before deputies arrived and whether any other adults or children were present. Officials also had not publicly described a possible motive or said whether more charges could follow as investigators continue reviewing evidence and witness statements.
As of the latest public update, Frederick was in custody and the sheriff’s office had identified Enoch Chappell as the child who died. The next major step is expected to come in court as the criminal case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated March 28, 2026.