Mother and Aunt charged after 1-year-old dies in Jackson

Two women, a mother and an aunt,
have been arrested in connection to
the tragic death of a 1-year-old in
Jackson.

Lagayla Haynes(mother), 28, and Samara Smith(aunt), 23, now face charges of felony child neglect.The incident unfolded on Wednesday when the Jackson Police Department (JPD) received a distressing call regarding a deceased infant at Forest Avenue. During the investigation, Haynes, the mother of the child, informed JPD that she had rushed her unresponsive daughter to UMMC(University of Mississippi Medical
Center).

However, upon closer examination, it was revealed that the child had been possibly deceased for approximately ten hours, raising concerns of potential trauma. As a result, there is a possibility that the charges against the two women may be escalated as the inquiry
progresses.

Haynes’ bond was set at $75,000, and Smith’s bond was set at $85,000.