No charges filed yet in NC infant death

AHOSKIE, N.C. (WAVY) - The Ahoskie Police Department is investigating the death of a 5-month-old baby boy.

In the small town of Ahoskie, everyone knows everyone. When there's a loss, it's hard to handle, especially when it's a baby.

"He was always smiling," said the boy's mother, Paris Pope.

Five months ago, Pope gave birth to her second child. A boy she named Ashton.

Pope was away for the weekend, so Ashton was staying at his father's home on North McGlohon Street, along with his father's girlfriend. Tuesday, rescue crews rushed to the home. Ashton was unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital, but died a short time later. A friend delivered the terrible news to Pope.

"She was like, 'I can't hold it no more'," Pope recalled. "She was like, 'Ashton is gone'."

Police believe the little boy's death was no accident. According to police, he died from blunt force trauma.

"There are so many different rumors and I wasn't there, but I do want justice for my baby," Pope added.

Nicole Rankins is dating Ashton's father. She told WAVY.com although the couple was looking after him, they didn't cause the baby's death.

"Me and my boyfriend would never do anything to hurt a child," Rankins said. "I have three kids of my own. I would never do anything to hurt a child."

"I'm about to go crazy, because I should have been there to protect my baby," Pope added. "I'm feeling why should I have to protect him when he was with his father?"

As police work to get to the bottom of what happen, the young mother prepares for a funeral.

"I love my baby," Pope said. "All I had was my two kids and damn if somebody didn't take one of them away from me. I feel like I lost a piece of me."

As of 11 a.m. March 2, no charges have been filed.

Police asks that anyone with information call the Ahoskie Police Department at 252-332-5012.