Mother charged with first-degree murder after allegedly smothering child

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — A mother is behind bars following the death of her child.

Karmella Robinson is being charged with first-degree murder after the death of her 14 month-old son.

According to the affidavit issued by the Dyersburg Municipal Court of Dyer County, on May 20, 2023, officers were dispatched to a home in regards to a possible death of a newborn.

The affidavit states that upon arrival, officers discovered that the baby was in fact deceased.

We spoke to Sergeant Stan Langley who told that there was a detective assigned to the case who saw inconsistencies in Robinson’s story.

Langley says when the detective questioned Robinson again, she confessed to killing her baby.

“He stopped and asked her if she would submit to a polygraph test, which she agreed to. It was administered by a special agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. During that interview, basically she failed the test,” said Langley.

Langley said that after Robinson failed the test, she finally admitted to killing the child.

The affidavit states that Robinson confessed to putting a pillow over her child’s face because he was crying and held the pillow there until he stopped crying.

The affidavit also stated that she went to sleep next to the child’s body before seeking help for the child.

“They’re not looking at anybody else. It was just her. And the child was about 14 months old,” said Langley.

Robinson will be arraigned on the charge of first-degree murder on Friday morning at 9 a.m. at the Dyersburg Municipal Court.

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