ROCKINGHAM — A woman is facing charge for the alleged abuse of her infant who has since died, stemming from a 2018 investigation.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Social Services reported the abuse to investigators in July of 2018 after the child, who was only a few months old at the time, was taken to the emergency room with injuries to his left arm.
Not long after the investigation began, the family moved to Moore County, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office responded to the family’s home near Robbins in June of last year, learning that the child had “traumatic injuries,” according to a press release.
The father had reportedly told deputies the child’s injuries were due to a fall inside the home.
The child, 14-month-old Noah Emmanuel Reza, was taken to Chapel Hill Medical Center for treatment, but later died from his injuries, according to MCSO.
After three months of investigation, MCSO detectives charged the father, Emmanuel Jonathan Reza, with second-degree murder and felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
Reza was arrested Oct. 4 and jailed under a $1 million secured bond. His next court date is scheduled for March 23.
The mother, 21-year-old Sonia Saavedra, was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with neglect or child abuse inflicting serious injury. She is being held in the Richmond County Jail under a $300,000 secured bond.
Investigators say she is charged for the alleged abuse that happened in Richmond County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
