AUTOPSY: 2-year-old child’s death a homicide, sheriff issues statement

BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A child’s death that prompted the state to take over the Bertie County Department of Social Services is now classified as a homicide.

Jamie Drain died on December 2nd at a home on Jack Branch Road, outside of Lewiston Woodville.

Her father, Donta Valentine told WITN today that the news brings him some closure.

“Actually, it’s a relief because now my baby can finally rest in peace,” he explained. “We can get justice for the people who caused harm to her. It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders. I can finally get some sleep now.”

An autopsy released today says the 2-year-old had been returned to her mother after being taken into DSS custody following a child abuse case.

The document says the mother was in the kitchen cooking while her daughter was playing. “The decedent was standing in the kitchen eating when the mother heard a thud,” the autopsy said. The mother turned around and found the child had fallen face-first, striking her forehead, the document said.

But the autopsy says the toddler had “extensive head trauma with scalp contusions, face contusions, and hemispheric acute subdural hemorrhage with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.”

It says the cause of death was blunt force trauma of the head, and the manner of death was homicide.

Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin issued a statement to WITN that reads, “One thing my office will not do is rush to make an arrest and justice not be served. There have been inconsistent testimonies, and something is missing in the autopsy report that can make or break this case. I have a team of dedicated investigators working expeditiously to bring closure to the family, but we are not looking to make an arrest, we want justice to be served.”

Valentine says the child’s death has taught him to trust his kids when they come to him with something serious.

“All I can say is, when your kids tell you something... believe them,” he said.

DHHS took over child welfare services in the county on August 15th, citing the child’s death. It’s the second time in three years that the state came in and took over the county operations.

Valentine said he trusts that Ruffin will bring justice for his daughter.

“He’s gonna take care of it,” Valentine added. “It’s just been a process for both sides, my family, the justice department. It’s been a struggle. He’s gonna get the job done. He’ll do what’s right. I believe in him.”