Baby dies after being stabbed multiple times at NC home, police say. Arrest made

A 10-month-old boy has died after being stabbed repeatedly at rural home in western North Carolina, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened around 2 p.m. Thursday near Barnardsville and investigators suspect one of the boy’s parents was the killer.

“Upon arrival, 10-month-old Enoch Chappell was found suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to Mission Hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” the sheriff’s office reported in a March 26 news release.

“The child’s mother, Ciara Frederick, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.”

One of the assault charges involves accusations Frederick was wielding a “fixed-blade knife” as she chased a man down the driveway of the home, court records report.

Details of a motive for the killing have not been released.

Court records indicate Frederick did not live at the home where the boy was discovered.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragedy,” Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said in the release.

“Members of the Barnardsville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS did everything they could to save this child’s life, and for that we are grateful. Our hearts are broken.”

Barnardsville is an unincorporated community about a 150-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.

This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 5:31 AM.