Daycare worker broke baby’s skull because she ‘had a headache’
An Arkansas woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of an eight-month-old baby in her care.
Erin Saulswho ran a daycare out of her home, was arrested on Tuesday, December 30, after officers responded to a call that an infant – later identified as Elijah Flowerday – was not breathing. The child was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
It has since been discovered that the young boy had “a skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds,” according to the arrest report obtained by KATV. During the investigation, 23-year-old Sauls told police she was “frustrated and had a headache” while changing the baby’s diaper when she hit his head “on the hardwood floor three times,” allegedly resulting in the child’s fatal injuries.
Sauls is currently being held without bail at the Pulaski County Detention Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her next court hearing is scheduled for February 27.
Alijah Fultonwho previously enrolled her own two children in Sauls’ daycare last year, the NBC affiliate told us KARK that although she thought Sauls was a “very sweet person,” she had developed a bad feeling about the 23-year-old very early on.
“Something literally told me on my car ride home to pick up my boys, like, don’t go back to her,” she explained at the time.
Fulton also allegedly heard from other parents that Sauls had taken more than five children into her home at a time, which is illegal for an unlicensed daycare owner in Arkansas.
According to the registration requirements for childcare you will find at Arkansas.govAlthough the law does not require someone caring for five or fewer children to be licensed, “the law requires that if care is provided at any time to six or more children from more than one family, the provider must be licensed.”
“The caregiver’s own preschool children should be taken into account when determining the need for licensing or registration,” the report continued. “The caregiver’s own school-age children are not taken into account when determining the need for a license or registration.”
It’s unclear whether she was watching her own children, but Sauls’ neighbors told KATV they believed she had no more than five children in her care at a time.
Authorities in Maryland have arrested a 24-year-old mother for the murder of her daughter, who was just five weeks old. Maryland State Police confirm that Charlestown resident Destiny Faith Chiveral has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Her baby died on December 4 and investigators are claiming the child’s body […]
Fulton began using her services in July 2025 and decided to end their business relationship in October after Sauls terminated her several times. If convicted, she said she believes the former daycare operator should spend the rest of her life behind bars.
“In a way, I was so desperate for someone to watch my kids, and now I’m so much more alert now that this has happened,” she added. “She doesn’t deserve to see the light of day again.”
Earlier this month one GoFundMe was established to help the Flowerday family pay funeral costs and provide counseling services for their other child as they cope with this “unimaginable loss.” As of Saturday, January 3, the fundraiser has received more than $12,000 in donations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child support hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
