Rocky Mount man charged with second-degree murder in infant's death

Xavier Juan Craighead

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Correction (Sept. 10, 2013: 1:15 p.m.): Xavier Craighead's middle name was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. It has been corrected here. | Our corrections policy

A Rocky Mount man is facing charges related to the death of a 3-month-old child.

Xavier Juan Craighead, 20, was indicted Monday by a Franklin County grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse and neglect, according to a prosecutor.

"This particular defendant was a boyfriend or associate of the mother, and the child was in his care at the time the
injury occurred," Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Allen said Tuesday.

The charges stem from incidents that began in February and continued through the first part of May, Allen said. He said the child was injured and taken to the hospital. The infant died several days later, on May 19.

A news release issued Tuesday by the Rocky Mount Police Department said the infant suffered a fractured skull and a subdural hemorrhage.

The child was 112 days old at the time of death, Allen said.

Allen said Craighead has been arrested and was being held at the Franklin County Jail without bond. He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

Saturday, September 14, 2013