CHARLOTTE — A 28-year-old babysitter has been charged with murder following the death of a seven-month-old child who suffered severe head injuries in south Charlotte.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department arrested Shidae Monique Sellers after 7-month-old Julien Grayson died from his injuries.
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The police investigation began Thursday after the Department of Social Services notified authorities about a severely injured child.
Sellers was initially arrested on child abuse charges, which were upgraded to murder after the infant died at the hospital.
The incident occurred at the Archdale Flats complex, located off Archdale Drive near Nations Ford Road in South Charlotte.
Court documents indicate that Grayson had been staying with Sellers at her apartment since Monday.
The child’s mother communicated with her son via FaceTime on Wednesday, at which time the infant appeared to be unharmed.
Early Thursday morning, Sellers called the mother and told her to go to the hospital, claiming the boy had been hurt after falling off a couch.
According to court documents, the seven-month-old suffered skull fractures and a brain injury, requiring doctors to intubate him.
Detectives noted that a simple fall from a couch would not account for the severity of the infant’s injuries.
Sellers is scheduled to make her first court appearance tomorrow.