PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A mother and father are facing several felony charges, including murder, in the death of their infant girl in Portsmouth, authorities announced Saturday.
Dontae Taylor, 36, and Chante Smith, 25, were arrested Saturday in connection to the death of their child last weekend. Portsmouth police confirmed to 13News Now on Sunday that Taylor and Smith are the infant's biological parents.
Portsmouth police said officers and medics were called to a home in the 2300 block of Victory Boulevard for a report of an unresponsive infant on Sunday, Nov. 26. That's near the Williams Court shopping center.
Medics performed life-saving measures at the scene before bringing the infant to CHKD where she was ultimately pronounced dead, police said.
Detectives proceeded to open an investigation and ruled the child's death a homicide.
Smith and Taylor were booked into the Portsmouth City Jail on multiple felony charges, including aggravated murder, child abuse/neglect causing serious injury and cruelty to a child. They are currently being held without bond.
Aggravated murder, as defined by Virginia law, is described as a "willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of any person." However, Portsmouth Police did not specify what evidence led them to the aggravated murder charge or what circumstances specifically surrounded the baby's death in this case.
13News Now reached out to Portsmouth Police about the child's age. We are still waiting on a response for more information.