A North Carolina couple, Kendal Lee Hayes and Glenn John Delgreco II, were indicted on first-degree murder charges after their three-month-old daughter died on May 13. An autopsy found the infant died of severe protein-calorie malnutrition due to caregiver neglect, and the death was ruled a homicide. Investigators say the baby had lost about one-third of her birth weight and that alleged neglect began six days after birth; the child’s grandparents also face felony child abuse charges. The parents were denied bond and are scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 21.
North Carolina Parents Indicted For Murder After 3-Month-Old Dies From Severe Malnutrition
(L-R) Glenn John Delgreco II, Kendal Lee HayesCredit: Iredell County Sheriff
A North Carolina couple has been indicted on first-degree murder charges after their three-month-old daughter died in May, with an autopsy finding the infant’s death resulted from severe malnutrition attributed to caregiver neglect.
Who: Kendal Lee Hayes and Glenn John Delgreco II were indicted by an Iredell County grand jury on Sept. 15. The infant’s maternal grandparents, Alice Loraine Evans and Thomas Virgil Evans, also face felony child abuse charges related to the case.
Kendal Lee HayesCredit: Iredell County Sheriff
What happened: The child died on May 13 after CPR was performed at the family home. She was transported to Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital, where medical staff pronounced her deceased. Investigators later determined the baby had lost approximately one-third of her birth weight and was critically dehydrated and severely malnourished at the time of death.
Medical findings and ruling: An autopsy concluded the cause of death was severe protein-calorie malnutrition due to caregiver neglect. The medical examiner officially ruled the death a homicide.
Glenn-John-Delgreco-IICredit: Iredell County Sheriff
Allegations: Indictments reviewed by PEOPLE allege the alleged neglect began on Feb. 10 — six days after the infant was born — and accuse Hayes and Delgreco of failing to provide necessary sustenance and medical care despite the child showing significant signs of medical distress. In June, both parents were initially charged with felony child abuse and aiding and abetting as the investigation continued.
Household involvement: Authorities say the grandparents lived in the same home and shared responsibility for the infant’s care, which is why they were also charged with felony child abuse.
Legal status: Hayes and Delgreco were served with the indictments while at the Iredell County Detention Center on Sept. 15. Both were denied bond on the murder charges. Public court records indicate the parents are scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 21.
Note: Details released by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and local reporting form the basis of this summary. The allegations described in the indictments have not been proven in court; the defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence unless convicted.
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