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On September 2 the Washington Police Department was notified of a suspicious death involving a 6 week old male.  The infant was treated at ECU Beaufort County the previous day and transferred to ECU Medical Center where he died in the early morning hours of September 2.  An autopsy performed on the child noted injuries consistent with abuse and listed the manner of death as homicide.  The investigation into this case resulted in Washington Police Department detectives obtaining arrest warrants for the child’s mother, Briasia Somerville, charging her with First Degree Murder and Felony Child Abuse for the death of the infant.  Somerville has also been charged with another count of Felony Child Abuse for injuries to her 5 year old child.

Somerville was taken into custody today by members of the Washington Police Department and transported to Beaufort County Detention Center.  Somerville is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center under  No Bond.  Somerville is 21 years old and a resident of Washington.