NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Parents who were charged with second-degree murder and child abuse in connection to the death Saturday of their 9-day old daughter, which has been ruled a homicide, appeared in court Wednesday.
Hilary D. Johnson and Z’ibreyea S. Parker were arraigned separately on one count each of second-degree murder on May 8.
Johnson, 23, and Parker, 21 were taken into custody on May 4 and were each charged, initially, with child abuse. Following the medical examiner’s ruling Monday, both were also charged with second-degree murder. They are currently being held at Norfolk City Jail without bond.
Johnson originally had a bond hearing scheduled for that morning, but his attorney requested a continuance in light of the new charges.
Both are slated to have bond hearings on May 14 and preliminary hearings on July 18.
Around 1:15 p.m. Saturday, police were called to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters for the report of a child protection call. When officers arrived to the hospital, they learned there was an unresponsive infant that was brought there and showed signs of abuse.
Police said the infant, who police said is the child of Johnson and Parker, was later pronounced dead by medical staff.
