Andrea Morgan Faust, 41, of Durham, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
Officers responded shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday to a home in the 10 block of Chartwell Court near NC 98. They found the two small children unresponsive. They were taken to a hospital, where one child was later pronounced dead. The condition of the other child remained unclear.
Police said Thursday night that the incident was being investigated as a homicide, and on Friday, Faust was charged.
"Just very sad, you know?" One neighbor told ABC11. "I'm just hoping that people can find out what happened."
Another neighbor told ABC11 on Friday that both children were younger than 5 and that the older child was the one who died. Neighbors said the children were brothers.
Many neighbors knew Faust, who they say has lived in the neighborhood for at least a decade. They said they were shocked that this happened.
"I knew she was under more stress than normal, but she was an awesome, very nice, caring," Charlene Montford said. "Loved her children very much. So this is a great shock."
Montford said Faust loved her children.
"She was always trying to do things to encourage them, to make sure that they had fresh air, to walk them," Montford said. "It is just very unbelievable."
It's also unclear whether the father of the children was home at the time of the incident.
2 children found unresponsive, 1 later dies, Durham Police say
The street remained blocked off past 11 p.m. as the investigation continued.
Faust was jailed at the Durham County Detention Facility without bond.
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On Friday, ABC11 asked Durham Police about further details and was told there was nothing new to share as the "investigation is still ongoing."
ABC11 also reached out to the Durham Department of Social Services. The agency said it was "not able to comment on any investigation."
"Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Chapters 7B and 108A, Durham County Department of Social Services and its Director are prohibited from commenting on, or disclosing, any potential current or previous assessments, investigations, and/or involvement with a family," a spokesperson said. "Any and all information pertaining to Child Protective Services must be held in strictest confidence by the Department in accordance with North Carolina law."
Faust is scheduled to appear in court next week.
Anyone with further information about this incident is asked to contact Cpl. E. Gaither at (919) 560-4440 ext. 29340 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200 or online. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves.
ABC11 is tracking crime and safety across Durham and in your neighborhood
ABC11's Michael Perchick contributed.
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