Asheville Police Charge Woman in Death of Infant

Asheville -- August 3, 2023: Asheville Police Department detectives have charged a mother with manslaughter in the death of a child.

Officers from the APD responded to Mission Hospital about 11:30 a.m. on September 26, 2022, to investigate an 8-month-old's overdose. Earlier that day, the newborn was transferred to Mission Hospital from Atkinson St. Dani Harmon, the infant, was pronounced dead on September 29, 2022.

Following an investigation by Detectives working in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, the infant's mother, Samantha Lynn Higgins (01/29/1993), was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Felony Negligent Child Abuse Inflicting Serious Physical Injury. Higgins was apprehended on Miller Street. She was brought to the Buncombe County Detention Facility and served with her warrants before receiving a secure bail of $150,000 from a Magistrate.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

WNCTimes