Two parents appeared in Norfolk’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on Wednesday, facing second-degree murder charges in the death of their 9-day-old daughter. The Norfolk Chief Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the infant’s death a homicide following a disturbing series of findings.
Police said they first responded to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) on May 4 after receiving a child protection call regarding an unresponsive infant who showed signs of abuse. Arrest warrants filed in the case have since revealed the extent of the child’s injuries.
According to the documents, the mother, 21-year-old Z’ibreyea Parker, told police she and her husband, 23-year-old Hilary Johnson, discovered their baby unresponsive when they woke up. They brought her to CHKD, where medical staff noted severe burns on both feet along with splash burns across other areas of her body.
A subsequent autopsy uncovered even more trauma. Investigators reported the baby had “several bruises on her head, broken ribs, a broken clavicle, and exhibited symptoms of shaken baby.”
When questioned by authorities about the burns, Parker admitted she “did not think the injuries were all that serious” and attempted to treat them with home remedies, including Witch Hazel, as per reports Local CBS affiliate WTKR.
Police also revealed the parents were homeless and had been living in a tent near Interstate 264 and Campostella Road. It is not yet clear how long the family had been residing there or whether the child had been cared for in those conditions.
The findings led investigators to conclude the baby’s death was the result of homicide. As a result, both Parker and Johnson have been charged with second-degree murder. They are currently being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond.
The couple is scheduled to appear again in court, with bond hearings set for May 14 and preliminary hearings scheduled for July 18. Johnson Sr. has started a GoFundMe to help with his granddaughter’s funeral expenses.
The case has drawn public attention due to the severity of the infant’s injuries and the parents’ living situation. The documents mark the first official confirmation of the baby’s sex, which had not been publicly disclosed until now.
Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the abuse or how long the child may have been subjected to harm before her death. For now, both Parker and Johnson remain in custody as investigators continue to examine the full extent of the tragedy.