WILSON, N.C. – A North Carolina man and his girlfriend are behind bars after a baby was discovered alone outside a Wilson hotel, where the child had been left for hours, authorities said.
According to WRAL-TV and the Wilson Times, Wilson police arrested Daryl Barnes III, the 4-month-old baby’s father, and girlfriend Keosha Parker on felony child abuse charges. Parker also faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the incident, which occurred late last week at the America’s Best Value Inn, authorities said.
Wilson police arrived at the motel about 11:30 a.m. Friday after the infant’s mother reported the baby missing, WRAL reported. The mother and Barnes reportedly had gotten into a verbal dispute during a party at the hotel Thursday night, police said.
Investigators learned that Barnes’ girlfriend, Parker, was the last person seen with the infant, according to the news outlet. Surveillance video showed her carrying the baby, authorities said.
Police interviewed Parker and found the baby outside, where temperatures had dipped into the 30s overnight, WRAL reported.
Crews rushed the infant to a nearby hospital in critical condition, authorities said. The child is expected to survive, officials said.
Barnes and Parker remain jailed on $250,000 and $500,000 bond, respectively, according to WRAL.
