NASH COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Deputies in Nash County said they are still trying to determine a motive in the beating death of an 8-year-old girl whose grandmother has been charged with the murder.
Deputies say that shortly after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, they were alerted that a child was taken to the emergency room at Nash UNC Healthcare with severe injuries and was dead upon arrival.
Deputies and detectives responded to the hospital to investigate and determined that the child was living at a home on Dutchman Road.
Detectives say that the 8-year-old was beaten so severely by her grandmother that she died from the injuries.
Investigators charged 72-year-old Patricia Ricks with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.
At an afternoon news conference, deputies said they are still processing the crime scene and that they have recovered some items in the home they believed were used as weapons.
Deputies said there have been previous calls to the home but would not go into details on what they were about.
The name of the victim has yet to be released because not all family members have been notified.
Investigators say the child had severe injuries throughout her entire body and head.
The child lived with her grandmother and several other siblings. Deputies say the grandmother was the legal guardian of the children.
The other siblings are currently in the custody of Nash County DSS.
Ricks is being held without bond and will have her first court appearance on Thursday.