Elsmere-area mother charged with starving her 4-year-old son to death
A 30-year-old Elsmere-area woman has been charged with starving her preschool son to death, according to New Castle County police.
Mercedes Ferguson was charged with the first-degree murder of her 4-year-old child. The boy's August death had not previously been disclosed by police.
First responders were called to a home in the unit block of Court Drive in the community of Greenview at Chestnut Run on Aug. 18 where they provided first aid to the child, according to police.
The boy was pronounced dead and his body was turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science who conducted an autopsy. The autopsy ruled the boy's death was a homicide through starvation, said Senior Cpl. Richard Chambers, a police spokesperson.
After reviewing the matter with the Delaware Attorney General's Office, Chambers said detectives obtained a warrant for Ferguson on Friday.
Ferguson was arrested on Monday at a home on Herbert Drive near New Castle. She remained at Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution on Tuesday after failing to pay a $1 million cash bail.
More: Gymnastics, cheer gym owner charged with having sexual relationship with underage athlete
Detectives are asking anyone with additional information involving this case to contact Detective Starratt at (302) 395-2745 or at ashlee.starratt@newcastlede.gov.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Elsmere-area mother charged with starving preschool son to death
