A couple from West Virginia faces serious allegations in connection with the tragic death of their infant daughter, who reportedly had a lethal level of ethanol in her system. It is claimed that the defendants applied alcohol to her gums and mouth whenever she became “irritable and fussy.”
Last week, authorities apprehended James Joseph Smith and Angel Talbert, who now face serious charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, child neglect leading to death, and conspiracy against the state, according to official records.
Court documents acquired by Law&Crime reveal that at approximately 7:52 a.m. on November 16, 2024, officers from the Braxton County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Braxton County Memorial Hospital following a report of a deceased infant, located roughly 70 miles northeast of Charleston, West Virginia.
Authorities responded approximately half an hour later and assessed the child, noting that her face appeared “discolored as if the baby had been face down.” Officials subsequently visited the residence of the child located on Tunnel Fork Road in Gassaway to interview the parents.
During a conversation with investigators, Smith recounted that he got up sometime between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. to go to the toilet and check on the baby. Upon checking the cot, Smith observed that the infant was positioned face down and was not breathing, prompting him to instruct Talbert to call 911 without delay.
The pair transported the young one in their vehicle and headed to the medical facility. On their journey, an ambulance intercepted them, performing critical lifesaving measures until they reached the medical facility. Tragically, the infant was unable to be revived and was declared deceased at the hospital around 5:32 a.m., according to the affidavit.
Talbert confirmed Smith’s account and informed authorities that their daughter was not ill and had no prior health issues.
On April 10, authorities obtained the results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner detailing the victim’s autopsy. A recent examination revealed that a test performed on the infant’s liver tissue returned a positive result for ethanol, showing a measurement of 3.21. A physician alerted officials that a dosage of 3.21 could be lethal for a baby.
On April 14, 2025, investigators revisited the residence of Smith and Talbert, where the parents consented to join authorities at the West Virginia State Police Sutton detachment to review the findings of the postmortem examination.
Two days later, officials carried out an additional interview, reportedly uncovering some details regarding how the alcohol entered the victim’s system.
The individuals responsible have been taken into custody and are currently at the Central Regional Jail, where they remain without the possibility of bond.