A tragic incident in Fayetteville has led to the arrest of a 19-year-old mother, who now faces serious charges in connection with the death of her 1-year-old child.
On April 9, 2025, around 4:46 p.m., officers with the Fayetteville Police Department responded to a residence on Hod Hat Drive after receiving a call about an unresponsive child. When emergency personnel arrived, they discovered a 1-year-old who had reportedly been left unattended in a bathtub.
According to investigators, the child’s mother, identified as Mariah Dawson, had left the toddler alone in the tub, resulting in the child drowning. Life-saving efforts were performed at the scene before the child was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Sadly, medical staff were unable to revive the child.
Following the investigation, Dawson was charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse. She bonded out of the Cumberland County Detention Center Friday afternoon.
The Fayetteville Police Department has not released additional details at this time as the case remains under active investigation.
