8-month-old boy died after a 23-year-old woman tasked with his care became frustrated he wouldn’t stay still while she changed his diapers so she smashed his head against hardwood floor

Arkansas – In a deeply disturbing incident out of Arkansas, a 23-year-old woman, identified as E. Sauls, has been charged with capital murder after an 8-month-old boy died from head injuries while under her care. Sauls, who was operating a daycare out of her home, is accused of violently slamming the infant’s head into a hardwood floor after becoming frustrated the boy wouldn’t stay still during a diaper change. Prosecutors say the repeated blows caused a skull fracture and severe brain bleeding that ultimately killed the child.

Sauls was formally charged with capital murder and pleaded innocent during her first court appearance. The charge reflects the seriousness of the allegations: investigators say the child’s injuries were not accidental but the result of deliberate and forceful violence. A judge later ordered Sauls held without bond, and she remains in custody at the county jail.

The victim’s parents dropped him off at the in-home daycare that morning, believing he was safe. According to police reports, the infant was in good health and “good spirits” when his mother left him in Sauls’ care earlier that day. What followed inside the home unfolded quickly and violently. Sauls told investigators she had a headache and was changing the boy’s diaper when she became overwhelmed by his movement. Instead of stepping away or seeking help, police say she lost control. According to her statement to authorities, Sauls admitted she bashed the baby’s head against the hardwood floor three times.

After the assault, the 8-month-old began showing immediate signs of severe distress. Arrest documents state that he became hot and sweaty, alarming symptoms in an infant. Instead of calling for medical help, Sauls reportedly gave the baby a bottle, hoping he would improve on his own. About 15 minutes later, when she checked on him again, the infant was no longer breathing. At approximately 11:14 a.m., police and emergency medical crews rushed to the home. First responders found the infant unresponsive and immediately began CPR as they transported him to a children’s hospital. Despite their efforts, the injuries were already devastating.

Doctors at the hospital performed scans that revealed the full extent of the trauma. The victim had suffered a fractured skull along with bleeding in his brain and eyes, injuries consistent with severe blunt-force impact. A physician later told police that the injuries likely occurred after 7 a.m., placing the timing squarely after the 8-month-old had been dropped off at the daycare. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital, with medical staff confirming that the skull fracture and brain bleed were the cause of death.

Sauls was arrested Tuesday evening at her home and questioned by police. During that interview, she admitted to the actions that led to the young boy’s fatal injuries, according to the arrest affidavit. By Wednesday morning, she stood before a judge and entered a plea of innocent to the capital murder charge. Judge J. Kamps ordered that Sauls be held without bond, citing the severity of the allegations and the circumstances of the case. Court records confirm she remains jailed as the legal process moves forward. If convicted, Sauls could face the harshest penalties available under Arkansas law.

As the case unfolded, the victim’s family was left reeling from the sudden and violent loss. The victim’s grandfather organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to support the grieving family. The fundraiser described the devastation left behind, noting that the infant’s parents are now trying to navigate life after losing their son. The couple also has another child, who lost his baby brother in the tragedy. Questions remain about how long Sauls had been operating the daycare and whether it met state licensing or oversight requirements. For now, the focus remains on the criminal case and the life that was cut short. What began as an ordinary morning drop-off ended in irreversible loss, marking one of the most heartbreaking child abuse cases the community has seen.