Woman sentenced to prison for child abuse, attempted murder

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Latajane Harrington appeared in Moore County superior court and pled guilty to two counts of felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and one count of attempted first-degree murder, said Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardinin a press release. Harrington received a prison sentence of 12-15 years and five months.

Harrington and her parents, of Aberdeen, were arrested on Aug. 11, 2021.

In an interview with Sandhills Sentinel in 2021, Aberdeen Police Chief Carl Colasacco said the department was working on the case since May 22, 2021, when Harrington’s infant son, with multiple life-threatening injuries from physical abuse, was admitted to FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. At the time, the infant was in hospitals for nearly three months, and it was unknown if the infant would survive from brain bleeding, skull fractures, and other injuries.

Colasacco said the possible dates of the injuries had a start date of April 16, 2021, and an end date of May 19, 2021. At the time, Harrington was 24 years old.

The Harrington trio and the infant lived at the same home on Meadowfield Circle in Aberdeen.

Harrington’s parents were each charged with negligent child abuse and obstruction of justice. Hardin did not release details on the parents’ charges in the press release. 

“This case was an investigation conducted by the Aberdeen Police Department,” said Hardin in the press release. “The Aberdeen Police Department is to be commended for the thorough investigation conducted in this case.”

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Stephanie M. Sellers and staff.