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A Washington, D.C. mother has been jailed without bond after her 13-month-old daughter was found deceased in a playpen, while her twin brother was discovered alive but critically ill. Authorities say the 25-year-old woman, Valencia Duke, abandoned the twins for several days in a severely neglected apartment.
Police responded to an emergency call on January 18, finding the toddler twins inside the home. Tragically, Mazouri Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, while her brother was rushed to the hospital suffering from severe malnourishment, hypothermia, and dehydration. Disturbingly, the boy was so desperate for food that he attempted to chew on a medical provider’s stethoscope.
Investigators determined that Duke spent only about two hours with the children over a 92-hour period, leaving them alone for days at a time. Court documents revealed horrific living conditions, including bug-infested baby formula, spoiled liquids, and bags containing crack cocaine.
An autopsy confirmed Mazouri’s cause of death as dehydration and malnourishment due to neglect, and her death has been ruled a homicide. Duke was arrested on June 3 and charged with first-degree felony murder, along with additional child cruelty charges.
She remains held without bond as she awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 11. It has also been reported that Duke is currently pregnant.