The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has announced charges against a woman following an infant’s death. On October 18, 2023, deputies responded to an unresponsive child at a home on Stuarts Draft Highway in Stuarts Draft. Fire and Rescue personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the child passed away.

An investigation was carried out by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and Child Protective Services into the cause of the infant’s death and the use of the residence as an at-home childcare facility. The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the child’s death as “undetermined”.

According to ACSO, 53-year-old Denise Stewart was identified as the homeowner and person in charge of the childcare facility. At the time of the child’s death, Stewart was allegedly caring for thirteen children. Caring for that number of children violates state mandates for proper child-to-adult caregiver ratio.

On January 22, 2024, Stewart was indicted on 13 counts of Abuse and Neglect of Children and 2 counts of Welfare Fraud.