More Charges Possible for Parents Arrested in Infant Death

Investigators said Friday that more charges were possible for two parents arrested in connection with the death of their two-month-old, Kayden Melvin. New charges could be related to the death of another child in 2010, authorities said. 

Angel Ann Richardson and Todd Stephen Melvin have been charged with unlawful conduct to a child. According to affidavits filed with the court, Kayden suffered from cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead Wednesday morning.

Investigators cited "deplorable" living conditions in the home, including canine feces and unknown fluids in the common area.

"Flying insects were also swarming the areas of fecal matter," states the affidavit. "Several cockroaches were observed in the victim's bassinet." Multiple bug bites were also found on infant's body, according to police.

In June 2010, emergency crews were called to the home regarding an unresponsive infant. The infant had allegedly been found in her crib, cold and stiff to the touch, officials said. After efforts to revive the baby girl, she was pronounced dead. Neither Melvin or Richardson were charged in the incident, according to investigators.

While the investigation continues, The Post and Courier reports that autopsies of both children haven't revealed a cause of death, limiting the charges available in each case.

ABC News 4 notes the state Department of Social Services has intervened to protect other children in the home, including a third child badly burned in a water incident who was later adopted and a fourth, currently in foster care with an adoption plan.

In the case of the burnt child, hospital staff contacted police in April 2009 due to the child's serious burns on its hands and feet that didn't match the story given by Richardson's boyfriend at the time, Alexander Ross Perry, according to reports.

Perry had said the child's skin started peeling after a bath in lukewarm water, according to the report. He was charged with inflicting great bodily harm and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Perry and Richardson were each charged with contributing to the delinquincy of a minor.