North Carolina Woman Charged With First Degree Murder Following Fatal Stabbing of 10 Month Old Son

Ciara Frederick faces first degree murder charges after her 10 month old son was fatally stabbed at a rural North Carolina home.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 7:18 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The News & Observer

Fatal Assault in Rural Buncombe County

A quiet community northwest of Asheville became the scene of a horrific crime Thursday afternoon. Deputies from the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call around 2 p.m. at a home on Rocola Drive, a rural dirt road in the unincorporated Barnardsville area. Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered 10 month old Enoch Chappell suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite the efforts of the Barnardsville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS, the infant was pronounced deceased after being transported to Mission Hospital.

Arrest of the Victim’s Mother

Following an immediate investigation at the scene, authorities arrested the child’s mother, identified as Ciara Frederick. She has been formally charged with first degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Court records indicate that Frederick did not reside at the Rocola Drive home where the stabbing occurred. While the specific motive for the attack remains under investigation, the severity of the charges reflects the violent nature of the encounter.

Additional Assault Charges Involving a Fixed Blade Knife

The legal filings against Frederick provide further details regarding the events surrounding the infant’s death. One of the assault charges stems from allegations that Frederick wielded a fixed blade knife while chasing a man down the driveway of the residence. Investigators have not yet clarified the relationship between Frederick and the man involved in the pursuit, nor have they confirmed if he was a resident of the home where the boy was found.