Memorial Ceremony Held for Child Murdered Last Fall

A private memorial service was held last week for Bella Marie Morris who died of asphyxiation at the hands of her mother.

Last November Cumberland County Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives arrested the  mother, Jaime Leigh Morris, 37, of 4618 Elcone Drive, who was charged with murdering her 4-year old child.

On Monday, November 5, 2012 at around 5:30 p.m. Bella was visiting her mother and waiting for her grandfather to come pick her up.  It was around that time when detectives were called to the home on Elcone Drive.  The child’s grandfather dialed 911 for help after finding Bella unresponsive in the living room.

While detectives began the investigating surrounding Bella’s death, Jaime Morris was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center after attempting suicide.  She was released from the hospital later that afternoon.

Morris was charged with first degree murder and felony child abuse charges.