29-05-2025
Greensboro parents accused in 16-month-old's death face judge in first appearance on murder charges
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Two Greensboro parents accused of appeared before a judge on Wednesday to face new first-degree murder charges.
In court, prosecutors shared disturbing new details about the child's condition.
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'This child was taken to the medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill. The medical examiner noted that she looked to be a victim of chronic intentional child abuse,' said the prosecutor.
Nykiah Singleton, 25, and Berry Williams, 30, appeared virtually before Judge Bill Davis for the first time on new murder charges tied to the November death of their daughter, Alexis.
Singleton was seen crying and distraught during the first appearance.
Alexis was just 16 months old when she was found unresponsive at a home on Kenneth Road around 3:49 p.m. on Nov. 6. She died on the scene.
Prosecutors said the medical examiner noted the 16-month-old had bruises on her head and body.
'We did get his autopsy back, which noted about 10 different head injuries on this child, internal, old and new,' the prosecutor said.
Before the child's death, prosecutors said the child had been in foster care in Georgia and was returned to Singleton's custody.
She weighed 16 pounds when she was back in Singleton's care and had lost nearly half her weight by the time of her death.
'At her time of death. She weighed 10 pounds and was a victim of physical abuse. So, as such, all of these charges were taken out as soon as the district attorney's office got that autopsy back,' said the prosecution.
The judge ruled that both Singleton and Williams will be held without bond.
The two have another child. In court, it was brought up that Williams has another matter with DSS involving the surviving child.
Neighbors who live near the home on Kenneth Road said the case has rattled this quiet Greensboro neighborhood.
'There was crime scene units and a very large presence. … It was on super lockdown for a while. We don't see stuff like that ever over here,' said Alex Cook, a neighbor.
Cook grew up on Kenneth Road and says her family knows the homeowner. She said she never saw Singleton or Williams interact much with neighbors and had no idea children were living there.
'It was super quiet over there. We're familiar with the owner of the house. He's super nice. He wasn't there at the time, as far as I'm aware. Is someone related to him? But we never really saw them coming and going. It was always very quiet. Like either they were there or they weren't,' said Cook.
Both Singleton and Williams' next court dates are set for July 23 at the Guilford Country Courthouse. At some point the state will have a Rule 24 hearing in superior court for both on this charge, which will determine if this case qualifies for the death penalty.
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