A Louisiana fire marshal confirmed on Tuesday that a baby boy found severely burned last week in Natchitoches was not a victim of a random act.
Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Brown spoke with KEEL on Tuesday morning and although he could not divulge a lot of information, he did confirm that 25-year-old Felicia Marie-Nicole Smith, who stands accused of killing 6-month-old Levi Cole Ellerbe, is likely not the only person who will face charges in the traumatic incident.
Brown also said that Smith had “a relationship” with the family of Levi, but he didn’t specify further on what the relationship entailed.
“This individual had a relationship with the family and certainly had access to the child. We’re still vetting through those things but it wasn’t a random act, which is important for us to put out. It certainly was an individual who knew the child and had access to the child.”
Brown indicated that they should know further details within the next week.
In a reported panic, the mom ran away, leaving Levi inside the residence. She stated she thought the attackers were after her and not the baby, although she said she had never seen the men before.
The description of the two reported men was never released.
Shortly after the baby was reported missing, law enforcement agencies, including Natchitoches PD, Louisiana State Police, Northwestern State University Police Department, and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office began searching the area for the Levi. They discovered the baby with severe burns on his body a little after 10:20 p.m. last Tuesday, close to railroad tracks near Breda Avenue, a few blocks from his home, KALB reports.
Authorities rushed Levi to a local medical center. He was later airlifted to University Health in Shreveport, where he later died.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Levi Ellerbe/Facebook]
