WESTON, WV – A West Virginia couple is facing severe charges after being accused of causing their infant daughter’s death by rubbing alcohol on her gums to soothe her fussiness, resulting in lethal ethanol levels in her system.
James Joseph Smith and Angel Talbert were apprehended last week and face charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, child neglect resulting in death, and conspiracy.
Responding to a report of a deceased infant at Braxton County Memorial Hospital on November 16, 2024, Braxton County Sheriff’s Department officers found the child at approximately 7:52 a.m. An alleged discoloration indicated the baby had been lying face down, prompting immediate investigation into the circumstances leading to her untimely death.
Smith recounted to detectives that he discovered the unresponsive infant in her crib around 4 to 5 a.m. and promptly had Talbert contact emergency services. The couple transported the infant towards the hospital, where an ambulance met them to continue resuscitation efforts that unfortunately proved unsuccessful. The infant was declared dead at about 5:32 a.m.
Talbert supported Smith’s account, asserting their daughter had no prior health issues. During a search of the couple’s home, investigators highlighted concerning living conditions, noting issues like the presence of roaches and the lack of running water, which made daily sanitation a complex exercise involving manually supplied water from an indoor spigot.
Subsequent inquiries into the infant’s death revealed pivotal information. On April 10, examination results from the Chief Medical Examiner indicated dangerously high ethanol levels in the infant’s liver tissue—3.21, which a medical expert labeled fatal for a baby.
On April 14, authorities shared these findings with Smith and Talbert, who expressed ignorance regarding how ethanol could have entered their child’s system. Despite their initial denials, a follow-up meeting revealed Talbert’s confession that Smith applied alcohol around the baby’s mouth daily over the last month of her life. Smith allegedly corroborated that they both engaged in this practice when the infant appeared irritable.
These revelations led to Smith and Talbert’s arrest, and they are currently detained at the Central Regional Jail, held without bail. This tragic case underscores the severe consequences of misguided attempts to manage infant behavior and the dire outcomes of neglectful practices.