Baby Is Burned And His Body Abandoned Near Train Tracks

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A 25-year-old woman was arrested by police in Louisiana for the death of a six-month-old baby. PEOPLE confirmed that Felicia Marie-Nicole Smith faces first-degree murder charges for the death of little Levi Cole Ellerbe. The baby died Wednesday after suffering severe burns, according to the Natchitoches Police Department. Smith was arrested Saturday. Investigators have not revealed whether Smith knew the baby or his mother.

The boy was kidnapped on July 17. The mother alleges that she opened the door to her trailer home around 9 pm that day after two men knocked on her door. The men sprayed her face with a chemical, perhaps mace or pepper spray. The woman ran out of her trailer at Natchitoches to escape the men. She assures that when she returned to the house, Levi was not there. The police answered her call and began searching for Levi in the area.

The baby boy was found shortly thereafter with severe burns after he was set on fire, according to authorities. “The baby was transported to [Christus Natchitoches Regional Medical Center] in critical condition. He was taken by helicopter to University Health, where he died from his injuries,”police reported.

Authorities have yet to reveal what led to Smith's arrest and have not disclosed whether the two men who allegedly attacked the mother are being wanted for being part of the kidnapping. It is also unclear whether Smith is connected to these two men. It was not yet known Tuesday whether Smith had appeared before a judge to offer his statement. PEOPLE confirmed that Smith remains in police custody without bond.