Bertie County Mother Charged with 2-Year-Old Daughter’s Murder
BERTIE COUNTY, N.C. — A mother has been charged with murder and felony child abuse in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter last year, the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
Sheriff Tyrone M. Ruffin said Rajasaffiyya Drain is accused of causing the December 2024 death of her daughter, Jamie Drain.
Emergency Response and Initial Claims
On December 2, 2024, deputies responded to a home on Jack Branch and Windsor Road after receiving reports of an unresponsive child. Emergency crews attempted CPR before transporting Jamie to a hospital, where she later died.
At the time, Drain told investigators she had been cooking when Jamie became unresponsive. She claimed the toddler began foaming at the mouth, possibly due to dehydration, and said her daughter had also fallen down the stairs around Thanksgiving.
Autopsy Contradicts Mother’s Account
An autopsy later revealed Jamie died from blunt force trauma to the head, contradicting her mother’s version of events. Ruffin highlighted these inconsistencies during a Tuesday press conference.
Arrest and Extradition
Drain was recently arrested in Wethersfield, Connecticut on unrelated charges and remains in custody there. She is now awaiting extradition to North Carolina to face the murder and child abuse charges.
This tragic case has left the Bertie County community shaken as investigators work to ensure justice for the young child.
Do you think North Carolina should implement stricter child welfare monitoring to prevent tragedies like this? Share your thoughts in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
