Death penalty sought against man accused of killing child

CLEMMONS, N.C. (AP) - A judge in North Carolina is allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty against a Forsyth County man who is accused of killing a 1-year-old girl.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported Thursday that Jesse Wayne Perkins faces a first-degree-murder murder charge in the death of Carolina Rose Dodd. Carolina was the daughter of Perkins’ girlfriend. The girl died in August of 2018 from what authorities said was asphyxia from being smothered.

Assistant District Attorney James Dornfried said that aggravating circumstances make Perkins eligible for the death penalty. Dornfried said that Perkins had admitted to smothering Carolina and told investigators that Carolina resisted and struggled.