North Carolina Mother Charged With First Degree Murder After Infant Found With Fatal Stab Wounds In Buncombe County

Ciara Frederick faces a murder charge in Buncombe County after her 10 month old son died from multiple stab wounds on Thursday.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 4:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KCRG

The Discovery Of A Violent Domestic Scene

Law enforcement officials in Buncombe County responded to a critical emergency call on Rocala Drive, where they encountered a scene that has left the local community in mourning. Upon arrival, deputies and medical responders discovered 10 month old Enoch Chappell suffering from extensive injuries consistent with a targeted assault. The rapid mobilization of emergency services was not enough to overcome the severity of the wounds inflicted upon the infant, who represented the youngest and most vulnerable member of the household.

Legal Consequences And The Formal Charging Process

Ciara Frederick was taken into custody shortly after the incident was reported, as investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the child’s death. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has moved forward with a primary charge of murder, reflecting the gravity of the loss of life. In addition to the capital charge, Frederick faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, suggesting that the scope of the violence on Thursday may have extended beyond the singular act of infanticide.

Medical Intervention Efforts At Mission Hospital

First responders performed immediate life saving measures on the scene before transporting the young victim to Mission Hospital for advanced trauma care. Despite the best efforts of the pediatric surgical teams and emergency staff, the injuries sustained by the infant proved fatal. The declaration of death at the hospital shifted the investigation from an aggravated assault to a homicide inquiry, placing the focus on the forensic evidence collected at the residence and the subsequent interrogation of the suspect.