14-Year-Old White Oak Boy Charged in Infant Sister's Death

A 14-year-old male has been arrested and charged in the death of his 7-month-old sister.

The 14-year-old, of the White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring, has been jailed and charged as an adult with first-degree murder, according to a Montgomery County Police report. Police said the teen was babysitting his sister when he beat and suffocated the child.

Police and fire rescue personnel responded to calls of a pediatric injury just before 6:30 a.m. Friday. As officers arrived on the scene, the 7-month-old girl of Lockwood Drive in White Oak, was being transported to Holy Cross Hospital, where she died of her injuries at 6:54 a.m., police said.

According to the police report, the baby's mother had left the home to go to work around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, leaving the teen to watch his sister. Police said the teen admitted to beating his sister while his mother was gone, causing her to cry.

Police said the teen admitted to holding his hands over her mouth and nose until the infant stopped crying. He then put the baby in her car seat inside of the apartment, where the mother discovered the baby when she returned home at 5:30 a.m. Friday, police said. Police say the mother believed the baby was sleeping but at 6 a.m. was unable to wake her to feed.

The teen is being held without bond until his bond review hearing, scheduled for Monday in Rockville.